Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Diversity Rules, 23 Feb 2007
Once again, Arcade Fire entertain with a panoply of sound that is as diverse as it is complete. They show themselves as adroit at creating a sound that reveals anthems in their songs yet breaks down to eclectic simplicity in sections. There are gems of gorgeous riffs on Neon Bible that emerge from the very large scale sound that Arcade Fire are able to produce.
There is progression from Funeral but whereas I didn't feel I wanted to part too far from the formula of that album, having enjoyed it so much, the change is enough to feel the distance while retaining their uniqueness and character.
I may have listened to an advance copy but I will help their chart position by buying the album from an appropriate source. Record company executives take note: where the music is of a quality worth buying, people will do so. This definitely comes into that category of worth buying.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kaboom!, 6 Mar 2007
This is it!!! My copy didn't arrive until today, and as I am a bit sad and old fashioned I have deliberately avoided spoiling the moment by listening to downloaded tracks or clips: I wanted to hear the album complete and at very high volume as it's been hugely anticipated in these parts. Funeral was such an immense album that I approached the new one with trepidation because the weight of expectaton was so huge that it was really going to take some monumental album to avoid a let down.
So I have just locked myself in the living room for an hour or so with the phone off the hook, a big loud stereo, and Neon Bible. Just heard the album for the first time and it's totally blown my bloody doors off. I needn't have worried about the album not having any of the elements that made Funeral the most exciting thing I had heard in years. It's all there: Win Bulter's compelling voice, the angular Pixies-like way of creating completey original songscapes, Regine Chassagne popping up for the first half of Black Wave/Bad Vibrations just when you were wondering when her indiosyncratic and weirdly beautiful voice would take centre stage, and the massive huge enormous sound and unstoppable momentum.
I know I am ranting and gibbering, so I'll stop. It's all been such a tremendous relief. If this is the album that every man and his dog will hear this year, as we have been told it will be, then I am quite delighted for that to be the case. I am a happy chap. I'm off for another listen. Woohay!!!!
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12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, 21 Feb 2007
There are countless bands who come out with great debuts, get hyped and then disappoint, or at least dont equal their 1st effort, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah to name but one.
This is definately not the case with Neon Bible; Funeral was the best thing id heard for a long time, dare i say it Neon Bible might even top it.
Black Mirror: Chugging opener, stating the intent of whats to come, upbeat opener with piano soaring around Wins crescendos
Keep the Car Running: Mandolins and pounding drums. Awesome song, one of the highlights, explosive chorus, the new Rebellion
Neon Bible- The most reserved song on the album, doesnt jump out like the others, but still rather good
Black Wave/Bad Vibrations- Regine and Win go halves on this song, beautiful melodies, with a bit of french from Regine, Win takes over with tempo change and typically epic refrain
Intervention: The cheese alarm goes off initially as the pipe organ kicks in, but it builds and builds with effortless effect and leaves you rather exhilarated.
Ocean of Noise: One of the most beautiful arrangements on the album, a majestic chorus, perfect for floating away whilst in a traffic jam. Win ends by repeating 'We're gonna work it out' coated in strings.
The Well and the Lighthouse: Another frantic earnest tune, great dynamics with explosive chorus, another highlight.
AntiChristTelevisionBlues: The drudgery of life anthem, my favourite of the album, would merit the same description of the last song only better, makes you wish every band were like them. effortl;essly simple, and a tantalising finish
Windowsill: Song about a general impending sense of doom, with Win repeating 'I dont wanna live at my fathers house no more'. More downbeat than the others but equally uplifting.
No Cars Go: An awesome song that is well known already of course. Contrary to another review, this song is much different to the original-definately much bigger , polished, and soars even higher than before. Awesome.
My Body is a Cage: The pipe organ kicks in again with a choral arrangement, sounds cheesy but works rather well. A nice finish to the album
So, to summarise, yes ive been a bad boy and downloaded it, but i have ordered 2 copies, as i couldnt resist a free bookmark and by all accounts the ltd edition is quite nice also.
Arcade fans and indeed anyone else will definately not be disappointed by this. Musically and production wise, it was dubiously recorded in a church, but it makes for a masive soundscape and is not at all detrimental. Regarding strings, i shamefully admit to not having heard any Belle Orchestre, but this was maybe the only element lacking in Funeral, there is alot more thought and emphasis gone into the string arrangements, comlpementing the songs beautifully.
Lyrically there is an evident war influence, in particularly Intervention-
'Working in the church while your family dies,your little baby sisters gonna lose her mind', and Windowsill 'I dont wanna live in America no more'
So highlights are Keep the Car Running, Windowsill, No Cars Go and Antichrist Television Blues, but its all generally rather good.It leaves you uplifted and exhilerated, i cant wait to see them live. Enjoy
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