When it comes to getting your band signed to a label one of the absolute worst things most bands can do is send out demos to every label you can think of. This scatter-shot method is time consuming, wasteful, irritating and, generally speaking, worthless.

Except, of course, when it works.

Several years ago a tiny little Arcade Fire did just that. Their demo went everywhere. Even Athens label Happy Happy Birthday To Me got one. Eventually signed to North Carolina’s Merge Records you already know the rest of the story. As soon as they started selling absolute shit-tons of records everyone dug through their piles of mail to throw the “super rare Arcade Fire” demo up on eBay. I’ve not ever seen it on there (mainly because, I guess, I never looked for it) but I’ve heard of people paying over $300 (!) for it. Um, yeah…

I can’t really be called a fan of the band but I’ve enjoyed a few songs and actually really like this demo. It’s been all over the Internet for a while now but it’s never been posted here so why the hell not, right? If you don’t take ’em they’re just gonna sit here in my hard drive all unloved and lonely.

(note: these tracks are purported to be from 2001 but all official info has the band forming in 2003. I have no idea when they were recorded. I don’t care. This whole post is a public service. deal with it.)

Arcade Fire Demo
MP3:Arcade Fire-Winter For A Year
MP3:Arcade Fire-My Mind Is A Freeway
MP3:Arcade Fire-Accidents
MP3:Arcade Fire-Goodnight Boy
MP3:Arcade Fire-Asleep At The Wheel
MP3:Arcade Fire-In The Attic
MP3:Arcade Fire-Can’t Let Go Of You
MP3:Arcade Fire-You Tried To Turn Away My Fears
MP3:Arcade Fire-Instrumental
MP3:Arcade Fire-The Great Arcade Fire

(That last track is a 17mb file. Just thought you should know. Enjoy!)