Flaming good

Four early observations on new Arcade Fire album The Suburbs:

1. It's more measured and subtle than its predecessors - less full-on, less overtly apocalyptic, less pomp and circumstance, but not necessarily the worse for it.

2. A lot of the songs sound like Springsteen, except for the single 'Ready To Start', which sounds like the Strokes.

3. Wyn Butler really is obsessed with the youth of today, isn't he? "The kids" recurs like a mantra.

4. It's rather a splendid comeback, whichever way you look at it.