Usually when silence appears on an Arcade Fire album that means the song’s over and it’s time for the next blast of bombastic sincerity (or in the case of Everything Now — an album this writer sticks up for as being far better than anyone says it actually is — weary cynicism). The use of empty space scattered all over WE is the most surprising element of the album, the band’s most sonically dynamic and diverse yet. This is Arcade Fire whittled down to the bare bones, if such a thing can exist, while still maintaining a true arena rock ethos throughout. “The Lightning, I and II”, much like its video, starts as sentimental sing along and then blasts its way through the fog of alternately paranoia (the overall mood on Side A’s “Age of Anxiety” and “End of an Empire” suites) and unwavering optimism (Side B’s joyful 180s “Unconditional Love I (Lookout Kid)”, “WE”) to find something more bracing and haunting than anything the band has done before. The wind is trying to blow us over and only our combined weight will hold against the storm. Arcade Fire is back baby, it’s good again.