Neon Bible

Might be more boring than the actual Bible. Well done

Talented hipster bullshit. The sense of self-importance is palpable.

Man… why’d Win Butler have to go and be an abusive asshole? The first three Arcade Fire records are perfect.

Being AF the greatest band of our generation, there is an ongoing discussion about which is their best record. This one, the second of their “holy trinity” has many adepts and you can see why. I read a boomer once, in a review of this record saying he did not get Bowies fascination with the band, for him they were too dramatic and not that gifted when it came to interpreting, I found that quite funny because to me, our beloved Bowie was always more about artistry than virtuosity, to me, the connection he found is quite evident. I love this record and it is a 5/5 even If it only suffices for a third in the rank (which tells you something about the other two) but, who could resists those magnificent transitions, all that palpable emotion? They do know (or at least did back then) how to turn songs around and explode with raw emotion and feels. I think the record starts a bit slow but from the moment Intervention breaks in, it is just one magnificent song after the other, I think I was brought to tears the first time I heard that song, and it happens a lot during the length of the record, that indomitable escalation in the song with those mariachi trumpets in Ocean Of Noise is something I will always get caught up. I’m glad this was part of the soundtrack of my youth, we did know a place were no cars go back then. I think this record was recorded on an abandoned church, I guess that’s how they managed that gigantic sound in My Body is a Cage, I think we will keep finding that song in movies and tv whenever they want to musicalize the climax.

I like Arcade Fire, don't love them. Intervention is my favorite song on this album, and I like that the whole album sounds like it should be played in concert in a church or cathedral. They did a great job capturing a certain ambience. Probably a 4.5 but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here.

Dull. Rubbish band.

DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING the parts with an organ were ok

Whiney and dull

One of my favorite albums from my college days. Such an amazing album. It was the first time I'd ever listened to them and I couldn't get enough. Hearing these songs takes me back to college and listening on my iPod while walking around campus. Every song is good on this album and I haven't hear an album of theirs that hits as hard as this one. Instant 5 for me.

I am not really an indie fan, but this album was fantastic. The Springsteen-esque lyricism and delivery came out strong with the very interesting style of rock, fast in tempo, heavy in synth and guitar effects, with a underlying folk style as well. Production is clearly indie but the album is scaled at something much larger. 5/5!

A classic.

As a big arcade fire fan I played this a lot when it first came out, but to be honest since suburbs I have only listened to this a handful of times apart from the main hits (no cars go, my body is a cage). Was really good to listen back to this it really is a great album, but just doesn’t quite match up to Funeral or Suburbs, and I would probably rank reflector above it too. But that’s just my personal opinion, great band great album just not their masterpiece, maybe harsh but a solid 4 star album. Such a shame Win Butler turned out to be a sex pest.

Arcade Fire's first three albums are a holy trinity of indie rock music, and while I couldn't definitively say which is my absolute favourite, "Neon Bible" stands out as the most grandiose. It's bleak but beautiful, orchestral but modern, has something important to say but doesn't drown you in its message - a skill Arcade Fire has unfortunately lost in their more recent releases. There isn't a bad song on this album; in fact, there isn't even a song that is merely 'good'. Every song is either great, or total perfection ("Keep the Car Running", "No Cars Go" and "My Body Is a Cage", to name just a few of the latter). Along with "Funeral" and "The Suburbs", I still listen to this album very often, and I suspect that won't change for as long as I continue to enjoy music. Standout tracks: Every single song on this album is a standout. There's nothing here worth skipping, from start to finish.

the songs really got me. they are all really catchy and artistically pleasing.

A classic.

man there is a part of me that really genuinely likes arcade fire's music. has it become super cliche of this era of indie music? yeah probably. is it insufferably pretentious? yeah probably. idk there's something about it that just draws me to it. but then also, win butler is an asshole. and fuck win butler.

Never listened to a full Arcade Fire album before. I quite liked this. Good energy and vibe troughout the album.

I'd really like a little more time with this album, but I have to move on. I'm familiar with the band, but only form 'Funeral', which I picked up soon after it was released. 'Power Out' from that album was so good the first time I heard it that I picked it up immediately. The album is very good, but didn't make it into my permanent rotation and I think of a narrow slice of time if I hear anything from it. Neon Bible is 100% new to me. It's good, not great. There are some amazing songs throughout. But more that come up short. I can't hear 'Keep the Car Running' without also hearing Eddie and the Cruisers, and it ruins the song for me. The middle of the album, from Black Wave to Windowsill, stall out. But Black Mirror, Intervention, No Cars Go, My Body is a Cage...all fantastic tunes. Love the rich, layered sound, the dynamics, the raw emotion in the lyrics. All very beautiful and worth of coming back to.

'Indie rock' can't quite describe grandiose of this music

Love this with all my heart. Thanks Will Butler for ruining Arcade Fire

Top 5 band of the last 25 years. This album is a classic, nearly perfect and it's not even their best album. (Antichrist Television Blues), Intervention and No Cars Go are monumental and the closing track My Body Is a Cage is the perfect finish.

Så bra album? ett s.k. pangalbum!

Solid album. Standouts for me: Intervention, (Antichrist Television Blues), Windowsill, No Cars Go. Antichrist was by far my favorite track after the first listen.

For me this isn’t up there with The Suburbs or Reflektor which I adore. Kind of want to give it a 3.5

Great album. I had not listened to this all the way through in quite some time! It’s really good, cohesive. Of course my favorites are Keep the Car Running and No cars Go.

I would have gone NUTS for this in college, and I’m still kind of a sucker for this big, orchestral style of pop rock. The lyrics are painfully simple and on-the-nose at times but I really enjoyed the sound of this album.

I love Arcade Fire. They had a great run of records. This being one of them.

Guarantee they bring a ton of energy to the performance. Versus the album, which is great, but always feels a little… restrained, and not in a way that’s helping the songs. I can see why Bowie loved these guys. His sensibilities are written all over these songs. “Antichrist Television Blues” reminds me of a Springsteen song. Just can’t place which one. Everything has this folky spoken word quality. I never quite got the vocal contrast between verse and chorus I wanted, where the verse was doing one thing and then the chorus did something that really contrasted with it. Love that the vocal isn’t perfect. Plenty of bum notes but he’s selling the shit out of it so it totally works. Where is that female vocal coming from? With all the AI vocals running around now it made me curious if it’s a real person or if it’s the lead singer’s voice pitch shifted. I wonder the same thing when I hear a female vocal in Steven Wilson’s music. “My Body is a Cage” is very strong and a GREAT close to the album.

Not bad… consistent… reminiscent of U2 without the edge.

más corny de lo que recuerdo

AF is too pretentious for me to be a big fan but I do appreciate the effort they put into making whole albums. This isn’t my favourite but it gets better as it goes along and “keep the car running”is a banger

-never heard of this album or band! -i like the bits of french in the first song -i do like the lead singers voice its very nice -this is definitely not something i would choose to listen to on my own -i do like the more rock leaning stuff on this album -most of the songs sound different from each other but its all the same vibe -not a bad thing! just not obsessed -overall its a pretty average album to me. the songs are nice to listen to but i don’t really like them

Black Mirror was a little boring, but I liked the piano melody. Keep the Car Running is one of my all-time favorite songs. Neon Bible felt similarly boring, kinda just repeating the same thing over and over. Really like the grandiosity of No Cars Go. Intervention has a great sense of progression, love the way it builds up.

I saved the last song from this album on Spotify, thats a first for any of the albums we've listened to so far! Overall this was ok. I wasn't wishing for it to end the whole time

Best Song: Keep The Car Running. I like when a song's lyrical themes match well with the feelings imparted by the music itself. Here, both the lyrics and music give a feeling of haste and urgency that works really well. Worst Song: My Body is a Cage. Overly whiny, verging on Smashing Pumpkin's "despite all my rage..." Overall: Extremely well-produced, but still lacks the soul I'm looking for. Everything feels very polished, well-thought out and constructed, but lacks some internal something necessary for me to actually care about it.

Keep The Car Running and My Body Is A Cage are the two songs I like the most. There are a couple others I like too, but the rest I could take or leave. (Antichrist Television Blues) sounds like an attempt to sound like Bruce Springsteen. This is a big drop off from Funeral and I’m fine with it being removed in later editions of the 1001 book.

You will never be Bruce Springsteen win butler you ugly demon

This album is interchangeable with Funeral. Some really good songs here, but after a while, I just get quite bored with their sound. Because this album is so indistinguishable from that first one, I wonder why they chose this one and not Funeral? As that has the qualification of being first. 2.5

Did you date any pretentious, sad, morally superior, slightly-misogynistic-but-in-an-ironic-way-so-it’s-fine, “sprezzatura”, Morrissey-listeners in the early 2010s? If you didn’t but you inexplicably wish you had, then this is what it felt like. Awarding an additional star purely because I’m a sucker for a clever neon sign.

Nr. 4/1001 Black Mirror 1/5 Keep The Car Running 3/5 Neon Bible 2/5 Intervention 3/5 Black Wave 2/5 Ocean of Noise 2/5 The Well and the Lighthouse 2/5 (Antichrist Television Blues) 1/5 Windowsill 2/5 No Cars Go 3/5 My Body is a Cage 2/5 Average: 2,09 This was just kinda boring for me

Hipster butt cheeks

First time I've listened to an Arcade Fire album since the revelations about Win Butler. Has really changed how I hear them. The songs are great but the emotional response I had to them has gone. Really sad about it.

Now this is interesting, a bad indie rock album. Or maybe it's just me. Apparently their third best, after the debut and "The Suburbs". I already heard the latter and I thought it was decent, just a bit colorless. I described it as a plain rock album dressed up with nostalgic sounds. It's pretty neat. I also learned that Arcade Fire is a pretty popular band. I agree that this album is worse than "The Suburbs", but I don't think it's that great. It doesn't have the melancholic atmosphere of "The Suburbs". So the sound is there, in its pure, plain form. But not without special toppings though. This time, they put so much synth it turned into an '80s pop album. Not my vibe, I'm afraid.

Prefer this album over funeral. Top songs: Keep the car running - sounds like bruce springsteen Intervention My body is a cage Honorable mention- neon bible

Jeez, so happy to see this pop up. This has been one of my favorites for years. Arcade Fire once meant a whole lot to me and Win really spoiled their magic in my eyes, but the music is still the music. Great stuff, shame about the dude.

2000's Indie was just a special time and place, and this is just one of the albums that proves it. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at an emphatic 5. I loved that. This is the second time we’ve gotten Arcade Fire – I thought The Suburbs was a good album, but for my tastes, it relied really heavily on the “vibes” of the instrumentation and a sort of nostalgic feeling that I don’t know is necessarily cultivated well throughout the course of that album. Going into this one, my biggest hope was for an album that managed to blend the dense lyricism of The Suburbs with a more engaging soundscape, and a more fruitful “narrative” hook that would balance my tastes a bit more. This absolutely nailed what I was looking for – I wasn’t necessarily prepared for a more somber and bitter tone, but this is exactly the type of album that clicks for me. Right from the rumbling tones of the intro in “Black Mirror”, all the way to the desperate plea that ends “My Body Is a Cage”, I just felt captivated and attentive throughout. Whether it was in the instrumental choices (lots of Springsteen influence here, but a bit of ELO-esque bombast as well), the emotion in the vocals (both happy and sad, sometimes painfully so), or the storytelling in the lyrics (big shout to “(Antichrist Television Blues”), I just don’t think this album has a dull moment. There’s always something to pay attention to, and I think it enrichens and rewards me as the listener for caring. I can’t fully explain the nitty-gritty of why this album’s lyricism clicked with me so well, but let’s just say that the way this album tackles religion, and the concept of “God-given justified self righteousness”, really aligns with my take on it. That’s not to say there’s no place for religion that gives someone such confidence, especially if they can turn it into a positive, but this album really deals with the fall from grace and the despair that follows from most people who have that mindset. My favorite moment in the album is the ending to “(Antichrist Television Blues)”, if only because that abrupt cutoff, and the subsequent hanging onto the pure silence gave me chills. That silence is God himself, responding for the first & only time on this album, with nothing but unspoken contempt, and that silence speaks volumes. It’s a brilliant production choice in an album full of them. So, yeah, I thought this was spectacular. Maybe it just hit closer to home, but I think even without that connection, there’s just a great rock soundscape here, and it really shines throughout the album. Some people might dismiss this as preachy, and that’s a bit fair – if it doesn’t click, it doesn’t click, and I can easily see how this could fall on deaf ears (or ears that simply hate indie rock). For my tastes, I loved it. One of the easiest 5’s I’ve given yet.

this shi fun af

I never heard of the group but glad I was introduced. The vocalist reminds me of Bruce Springsteen. I especially liked Intervention.

their best album by far. yes better than funeral. this is what i wish that album was, tbh

We're in disagreement over our top three Arcade Fire albums. This is actually my favourite, whereas Dork rates this at number 3. Either way, it's worthy of 5-stars. My Body is a Cage is an excellent song, as is No Cars Go. The Well and the Lighthouse is also up there. Best listened to with headphones in and eyes shut - there's a real atmosphere created by this one.

I'm more familiar with some of Arcade Fire's other albums (e.g. Reflektor and Funeral) but hadn't listened to this one front to back. Loved it, especially the parts with the organ.

own

Great album

Good vibe

Had heard of them and now I know them. I have already listened to this album two more times before I rated it. Loved it and think it belongs on the list.

This is my first Arcade Fire record. I don't have a good reason for that, but it is what it is. This was a mistake on my part. Don't be like me.

Solid indie rock. There's not a skip track on this album. Enjoyable listen.

Sad but great

nice chill album

9/10

lol, i just listened to this as a palette cleanser after Boatman’s Call. needless to say, i love it (or 95% of it, don’t care as much for My Body Is A Cage)

Neon Bible is the second album from Canadian band Arcade Fire. The album met with considerable critical success, as their first album did, but this one found international commercial success. The album was the first of a string of successful albums that pushed them into becoming one of the biggest bands in the world through the 2010s. The band makes rich, orchestrated alt-rock, giving their work a grandiose sound. Win Butler's earnest vocals add to the breadth of the sound, adding an element to their expansive sound. These songs, like "Keep the Car Running," have a danceable rhythms, and the energy of early Springsteen.

Arcade Fire has probably lost a substantial amount of prestige over the last 8 year or so, but man their first three albums are incredible. Neon Bible is their most Springsteenian album, and I’m here for it. Keep The Car Running could be argued as their best song, and No Cars Go isn’t far behind. I have the perception that this album gets lost a bit between Funeral and The Suburbs, two absolute masterpieces. Even if I’d rank Neon Bible 3rd if I had to in their discography, it’s still a masterpiece in its own right, and an extremely cohesive, gorgeously crafted, unique record that holds up quite well. Reflektor was okay, but boy oh boy I’ve never seen a band fall so hard in quality after that. That said, few bands have ever had such a brilliant start as Arcade Fire, and Neon Bible is a key part of that.

Arrangements are great. Favorite track: Intervention. This is one where I wish I could give half ratings. 4.5 rounded up

Something different for me Really enjoyed it Like really.

HOLY HEAVENS. THIS WAS BEAUTIFUL. I didn't think much about it in the first 2 songs or so, and froze on the 3-4th songs and so forth! How beautiful these were! I'm so happy that I discovered this album. Some of my favorites, though not all: Neon Bible Intervention (especially the lines: "Been workin' for the Church while your life falls apart / Been singin' hallelujah with the fear in your heart / Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home") Black Wave / Bad Vibrations Ocean of Noise Windowsill No Cars Go My Body Is a Cage

Favorite Tracks: Intervention My Body Is a Cage (Antichrist Television Blues)

Great Album bought this the day it came out after getting into them through their previous album Funeral, even saw them play in Dublin on the Neon Bible your they were excellent. This Album is probably my favourite Arcade Fire album packed full of great tunes:- Keep The Car Running, Intervention, No Cars Go, My Body Is A Cage, Black Mirror and Ocean Of Noise but (Antichrist Television Blues) is my personal favourite.

Unreal.

I'm a sucker for indie rock Favorites: "Black Mirror", "Intervention", "Ocean of Noise", "My Body Is a Cage"

I'm a sucker for AF. 5/5

4.5

Classic and fun as hell. 4.5 stars

A goddamn classic. 2004-2011 indie is unparalleled IMO, and Arcade Fire is such an important part of that era. Neon Bible seems to get overshadowed by Funeral and The Suburbs, but it holds up as an equal. I could listen to this start to finish any day.

Arcade is definitely fire!

I thought Funeral was my favorite Arcade Fire album and only remembered liking a few songs from Neon Bible. But listening again I realize the entire album is good. Unfortunately, when I listen to the Arcade Fire now I can't help but think of the accusations made against Win Butler. I guess they ended up not going anywhere, but it does linger in the minds of the fans because he didn't deny it, but merely said it was consensual. There's no way to prove it either way, but when multiple people come forward saying the same thing happened... It is hard not to think it might be true and this person may have done something wrong. And then I have to wonder why bands that I enjoy keep getting accusations made against them? Brand New for example. How can I listen to Brand New without thinking about the accusations against Jesse Lacey. Maybe the shit these artists do makes for good creative fodder which is really fucked up, but I'm just theorizing here. Anyway, I have a hard time separating the artist's personal life from the art they create, but if I really objectively do separate those two things the art does stand up on its own.

Immediately love Black Mirror, also love the classic Ocean of Noise. I also love the title song, Neon Bible.

Puros palos, tremenda banda 9/10

9/10

Algún skip pero redondeamos hacia arriba

Amazing, should listen more to Arcade Fire

One of my fav albums ever!

Great Album

relisten. deserves 5 stars for my body is a cage alone.

I really like this album. Arcade Fire's first 3 albums were fantastic. I haven't really listened to anything they did after Reflektor though. I should give it a shot.

It's fire!

Favourite song- Keep the car running

Пиздатый альбом

I listened to this when it came out and remember enjoying it, but I don't remember it being so damn good. It's REALLY good. 4.75 stars

Great record. Another I’d overlistened to in the past which sounded fresher than expected. This is one of their records that for me is wall to wall belter. From lyrics to production, they just ooze quality. It’s not often bands like this reach the heights they have. Keep the Car Running / Neon Bible / Intervention / No Cars Go top highlights. Arcade Fire are a frustrating band at times, especially their last 2/3 records. When they’re good, theyre excellent, but when they aren’t they’re a bit meh. But this is class. If they’d carried on like this and Suburbs they’d be up there with The National for me.

Win Butler skeeze aside, this is a phenomenal album that holds an insane amount of nostalgia for me. I waffle between the first 3 but overall I’d say this is probably my favorite Arcade Fire album.

Keep the Car Running intro gives me chills. So simple but so good. No Cars Go does something very similar, chill-inducing for me - has always been one of my all-time favourite songs. I had this album on CD when it came out, I still really like it. Fave Tracks: Keep the Car Running, Intervention, Black Wave/Bad Vibrations, No Cars Go 4.5/5

their first three albums are probably their best and this one is my favorite among the three

I love this album, especially the anthems.

I've never listened to Neon Bible in its entirety until now. I'm absolutely struck by both the instrumentation and lyrics on this album. It's so damn lush, sometimes creepy and unsettling, always interesting. This is Canadian indie rock that planted a flag firmly in bombast, sweeping church-y dirges ("Intervention" has never made me bob my head to pipe organs so hard), fantastic sound production, and lyrical content that takes aim at modern politics, technology, AND religion? All right before the iPhone was introduced to the world and the "Black Mirror" truly took hold of our world forever. Kinda bleakly beautiful, eh? 5 stars: This album needs to be on the list. Full stop. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *Originally announced on December 16, 2006, through the band's website, the majority of the album was recorded at a church the band bought and renovated in Farnham, Quebec. The album is the first to feature drummer Jeremy Gara, and the first to include violinist Sarah Neufeld among the band's core line-up. *Once the title of the album was decided upon, the band was further inspired after they, according to Win Butler, "watched a lot of TV preachers, get-rich-quick schemes on YouTube." The band was also attracted to using the ocean and television as central images for the album, with Win Butler saying the ocean imagery symbolizes a lack of control; of television. *The title of the dystopian television series Black Mirror is partly inspired by Neon Bible's opening track of the same name. The term "black mirror" refers to the dark reflection of a viewer rendered by a dormant television or smartphone screen. *The song "(Antichrist Television Blues)" was originally titled "Joe Simpson (Antichrist Television Blues)" in reference to the father and manager of singers Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. Butler chose to remove Simpson's name from the title, keeping the subtitle parentheses intact. Butler would introduce "(Antichrist Television Blues)" during live performances as "a song about what happens when fathers grow up to manage their daughters. *The artwork for the album is a photograph of a six-foot neon sign that the band commissioned for use while on tour. In the photograph used for the cover, the lighted Bible is caught in mid-flicker...The artwork would go on to win Tracy Maurice and François Miron the Juno Award for best CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year. Interesting Factoids from SongFacts.com: *Frontman Win Butler told The A.V. Club why he chose the title 'Neon Bible' for the album: "I just jotted it down in my notebook and kept coming back to it. The song was very much off-the-cuff, written in one night and recorded the next day. Lyrically, there's a lot of stuff dealing with religion and culture, which I'm really interested in. It's an image that I kept coming back to that really felt like it was the title of the record. And everyone else in the band agreed." Standout Tracks: Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, Intervention, Ocean of Noise, The Well and the Lighthouse, (Antichrist Television Blues), No Cars Go, My Body Is a Cage

First time listening to this all the way through in a very long time and it's held up remarkably well. I think this might be their...best album?

Great album. Each song has its place.

I knew I was in for a treat when I heard a mandolin on the second song, "Keep the Car Running." This is one album that actually deserves the recognition it got. Every track is solid, because this band can actually play multiple instruments, the lyrics are good--and you can actually make out what the singer is saying--and the music moves along at a good clip. This is great music for listening to at work or on the dance floor.

One of my favourite bands, no cars go is the standout