Arcade Fire

The Suburbs

First released2010

The Suburbs was recorded primarily at a residential studio in Los Angeles called The Miracles, as well as at other locations including a church in Montreal. The album was produced by Arcade Fire alongside Nigel Godrich, known for his work with Radiohead, who played a significant role in shaping the album's sound and arrangements. The band employed extensive orchestration and layered instrumentation, using a wide range of instruments including strings, horns, and synthesizers to create the album's expansive sonic landscape. Recording took place over approximately one year between 2009 and 2010, during which the band experimented with both live instrumentation and electronic elements. The Suburbs was released in August 2010 and went on to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2011, becoming a landmark achievement for the band and alternative music of that era.