Neon Bible

Bit disappointing to be honest

College classic. Still feels like every trailer ever had these songs.

Not bad, per se, but a total snooze.

Three of AF's albums in the first 150 I have listened to. This album is fine start to finish. Interesting lyrics, music and themes. Notable song is "Keep the Car Running" and "Intervention".

Solid

I've never listened to this album before (don't judge, I've probably heard stuff on this list that you haven't...) It's big, grand, I like the churchy scale of it and the organ. I know Arcade Fire was an influential band, and this is a pretty interesting listen, so a spot on this list for this album seems fair enough. 3.5

Ikke så god som Funeral. Men en ganske god plade.

Muy bueno.

Two years ago, Arcade Fire’s earnest, wholesome appeal was punctured when everyman Win Butler received four sexual assault allegations. At the time, I worshipped “Funeral” and “The Suburbs”and was gutted by the news. My appetite to discover the band’s wider discography shrivelled and died, and I haven’t heard anything of any of their other albums since. Now, on the very day Arcade Fire are playing “Funeral” in London (I considered it, but persuaded myself not to go) this album appears, forcing me to listen to them. And to muddy the waters of my convictions even more, “Neon Bible” turned out to be really great. Curse you, album gods! This is the band’s second album, and has the daunting challenge of building upon one of the most revered debut albums ever in “Funeral”. Despite the name, the streamlined, Tron-like album art and much reference to technology and alienation, “Neon Bible” isn’t too far removed from the sound of “Funeral”. It’s a fair bit more grandiose- cranking up the reverb and slathering organ everywhere- but there are touches of the homespun and baroque too (harpsichord here, string quartet there, mandolin or glockenspiel elsewhere, etc…) “Neon Bible” isn’t an album for subtlety, as the bigger the sound grows, the more satisfying it is. On the one hand, opener “Black Mirror” is a slightly underwhelming smudge of sound, the title track is a muted dud and “Ocean of Noise” takes until the outro to get off the ground. But on the other, “Keep the Car Running” is a glistening adrenaline rush. “Intervention” is a seismic prayer into the void. And towards the end of the record, the desperation of young adulthood tips over into melodrama, with the haunted folk of “(Antichrist Television Blues)” and the stirring “Windowsill”. But it’s the one-two punch at the end which seals “Neon Bible” as a strong album, standing as two of the best songs I’ve heard by the band. “No Cars Go” is soaring, transcendent, and possibly the most epic song in existence to wield an accordion refrain. “My Body Is A Cage” goes one further, with a truly epic outro which shatters everything before it and can only leave silence. I was not at all surprised to read the album was mostly recorded in a church. “Neon Bible” doesn’t quite reach the heights of the two albums either side of it in the band’s career, but today it gave me an excuse to indulge and enjoy Arcade Fire again. For that, I’m very grateful.

This was great stuff, I liked it a lot better than funeral

This was decent, definitely better for me than Funeral. I think this is one I would likely want to listen to again. 3.5/5

I really thought I wasn't gonna like this, after Funeral did nothing for me, and Reflektor not really doing much for me either. However, I really like this album. I don't know why, but it gets me in a way the others didn't. It honestly has me wanting to recheck out those other albums, and the others I haven't heard. 4/5

Mmh

Sometimes you go into an album with a certain prejudice or predisposition, knowing little about the artist or the genre or their music. When you do this, one of two things is going to happen: your prejudices will be confirmed, or they won’t be. You’ll be surprised by how wrong you were, or not surprised at all because it was exactly what you expected. I’ve often found with this project that I am wrong about a band or artist after listening to an album of there’s. And that’s been an awesome experience. I was not wrong here. I figured Arcade Fire was a hipster band, whose sound was “different,” possibly intentionally so, was adored by those who thought their tastes were better than yours, and who took themselves and their music overly seriously and whose songs invoke weird imagery and strange stories. And I came away feeling that way. It’s an interesting sound, to be sure. And I didn’t dislike it. But I just feel like it isn’t for me. It’s well made, well intentioned, and the people involved are talented. I just didn’t care. And that’s my prejudice prevented me from really enjoying this. I think it needs more consideration. Maybe I’ll give it that one day. For now, three stars. Benefit of the doubt. Standout Tracks: Keep the Car Running, The Well and the Lighthouse, (Antichrist Television Blues), No Cars Go

Wow! The percussion overall was a big highlight on this album, truth be told I’ve never listened to this one yet but it holds up to the rest of theirs. 3.5

Great Album

P fun

I wish there was an Arcade Fire album I liked in its entirety. The highs are high the lows are boring. This particular album is really frustrating to me because there are so many songs that i could almost really enjoy.

I used to live this album and the band but I've moved on and found 998 albums I would rather listen to instead

Already very familiar with this album. A great listen

The rocking-est part is offputting. But some of the singing sounded Bowie-esque.

Not I! I have heard of multiple Arcade Fire albums, but never this one. I was surprised to see this on the list, but it is my official introduction to Arcade Fire and I like what I heard. I’m excited to hear there other albums on the list whenever I get them.

Liked it more on a second listen! Would be a real 3.5 for me. Don't know if there's any single song I'm keen to relisten to but it's a nice package on its own merit.

Definitely went into this fairly Arcade Fire neutral, but even then was surprised by how unmoved I was by this. Wish it did more for me! Oh well!

More nostalgia! I like the organ and a lot of the orchestral sounding stuff. Not my favourite AF album and I kinda feel like I’ve grown out of them as a whole.

Liked it more than i remembered but i do not really enjoy these guys and their weirdo concept

Not my jam

Saved a few tunes

Ok, not my personal taste.

Arcade Fire is a band I don’t actively listen to, but always quite enjoy their music when I do!

Favourite tracks: my body is a cage; black mirror; keep the car running

The kind of nostalgia that hurts to listen to. I can barely listen to this album without feeling horrible about where my life is and the regrets I have. Amazing album though. So glad to have found it.

One of my favorite albums from the 2000's indie scene. All the feeling and emotion of "Funeral" but more upbeat and grandiose.

The more I listen to Arcade Fire the more they just kinda blend together. The first one I listened to was awesome and I loved it, but now I feel like it's just because that was my first time listening to Arcade Fire. This isn't bad by any means, but it isn't nearly as good as The Suburbs.

I asked for more Arcade Fire last week and the generator delivered. I really like their sound and liked this album. I did not, however, like this nearly as much as The Suburbs. I appreciate what they were going for, but it doesn’t all come together for me. I like individual songs though. Favorites were Keep The Car Running, Intervention, (Antichrist Television Blues), and No Cars Go.

black mirror arcade fire 2007 1. black mirror: 9/10 2. keep the car running: 8/10 3. neon bible: 6/10 4. intervention: 9/10 5. black wave/bad vibrations: 7.5/10 6. ocean of noise: 7.5/10 7. the well and the lighthouse: 9/10 8. (antichrist relevision blues): 8/10 9. windowswill: 6/10 10. no cars go: 7.5/20 11. my body is a cage: 8/10 overall rating: 7.77/10

Wasn’t a fan of their style

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

77/100

Not really my thing..

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.

Nice sound. Kinda epic and crunchy. And the lyrics are pretty good too.

Hmm… I get why people are crazy about Arcade Fire. But their lyrics…

It wasn't bad in fact there were lots of nice touches, but it was lacking a certain something to make it really good.

I enjoyed this more than I expected, but I also can't see me listening to it again.

Boring and generic.

Some bangers, cant reall understand words without lyrics pullef up

An album that’s dark, yet warm in its sound. It feels similar to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s album Organisation. This was a strong, emotionally-packed record!

Solid album. Nice to listen to but one that won’t love long in the memory. 6/10

It's not my favorite but them. It has a couple good songs. This was the first album I heard by them and feel the same about it since it came out.

3/10

It's fire!

Solid sophomore LP. Great arrangements and production

Every song sounds exactly the same except for whether it's a man or woman singing. There's having a cohesive sound on an album and there's being repetitive. If you like once Arcade Fire song, you probably like them all.

I bought this album as soon as it came out because I loved the artwork and I was curious about the band. Man, did I luck out. The glorious aural scope of many of these songs still resonates 17yrs on. It’s my favourite Arcade Fire disc.

Lovely record.

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

Take the glorifying and orchestrally complex indie music of Funeral, and add in darkness and angst. Continuous through theme, it paints a dark image of the American dream as it came to be, not how it is described. This really hit when I found it in 9th grade and still has as I've aged. I've always felt the complexity and thoughtfulness of the music helps accentuate the anxious mind as we work through issues and feelings like these concepts in real life.

Ha doing well so far have already heard 3 of 5 of these albums. Arcade Fire is great! Love this album. Suburbs is my fav but this is one of my next favs by them.

I mean it’s no Funeral. It’s still pretty good though. 3.5

Boring, weak vocals so drained our by the music.

Ikke dårligt, jeg havde forventet noget lidt mere rocket fra dem.

Hørte den halvanden gang. Den kunne nok godt have været lyttet mere. Der er et par sange som jeg havde lyst til at skippe, fordi de trak tempoet ud. (Titel sangen, og åbneren.) Men ellers et virkelig behageligt lyt men nogen kæmpe numre på.

Grandiøst lydende indie rock

Will Butler Tony’s weekend lessgoo

Det finns något. Behöver fler lyssningar men vi börjar med en trea.

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

3.5 I've listened to this a few times over a few days, allowing myself to fall even farther behind on the project, but I still can't make my mind up about it. It feels fine to slightly more than fine. Will revisit, because this seems like something I will like more as time goes on. For now, saving Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, and My Body Is a Cage.

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.

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

Not bad. It'll always be the follow-up to Funeral.

Smacks somewhat of the lyrical sensibilities of Springsteen coupled with the grander orchestration of Cold Play. The latter somewhat undermines the former at times, but all in all I like this band.

They’ve perfected the second half crescendo, with a driving beat (and organ) that beg for this album to be used in celebration/as a pick-me-up. Just right for the last day of the year with students.

I like this album better than The Suburbs, but not quite enough to put it at a 4 (at least what I am thinking after one listen). I may go back and listen again at some point, but for now it's a 3+. Definitely some catchy tunes here.

It felt like they were going for something big but it didn't hit for me

At times, I was thinking 4 stars, but 3.5 is as high as I can go, I think. I don't love his singing most of the time. I do enjoy the music, though, for the most part. I could see this band growing on me w/repeat listens.

It's hard to go wrong with Arcade Fire's first few albums. This one doesn't blow me away like Funeral does, but there's very little here that I have to complain about.

Canada's finest.

This is maybe a bit art-indie for me, it's very grandiose and trying a bit too hard, but actually it pulls off without being too self-important thanks to some great tracks, in fact, mostly great tracks. Black Mirror, Windowsill, and of course My Body is a Cage all stand-outs. One of the most unexpectedly enjoyable albums I have heard so far.

Good album.

This album deserves headphones. It should be played at an absurd volume. It is a bold, voluptuous album. You can listen to just one instrument for a whole song and then go back and listen again for another and it's another song entirely. It is an album I have never stopped coming back to, since it landed.

Another amazing album. Listened to Funeral and did not like it, so expectations for this album were low but from the first track it clicked in my brain and i really like this album. Might have to go back to funeral soon and see if my opinion changes

Enjoyed the album, listening to it while catching up at work I didn't pay a whole lot of attention but I'll listen it again.

Probably better than I think it is. I think I prefer the EP with No Cars Go

O álbum começa bem, mas rapidamente fica meio chato. Neon Bible, dá o nome do albúm e o tom que ele vai ter no restante das músicas. É uma atmosfera soturna e monótona, meio catedrática. As músicas não são ruins, mas sempre parece que falta alguma coisa. Quero fazer um parênteses sobre No Cars Go, que além de achar uma música ótima, traz um prenúncio do que seria o álbum seguinte, The Suburbs, que também é melancólico mas muito mais interessante. Se for conhecer um álbum do Arcade Fire, recomendo muito mais o The Suburbs que este.

9/10

3.5

YOOOOOO...

Late-2000s vibes. I never got into Arcade Fire heavily when they were newer on the scene, but I do like this album. My Body is a Cage still fucks.

It's probably the most average album I've ever listened to. The songs were alright to listen to but it's nothing special. This album is 1001 Albums apocrypha and is no longer listed in the book. Only 1 Arcade Fire record is currently on there. The last song is really good though. 3 stars for "Neon Bible".

These guys like Springsteen, hm? A tad pretentious, and thinks it's much more interesting it actually is. I'd give 'em a 2.5 if I could but I'll round down because Win Butler is such an ass.

I enjoyed this album. The tracks were fun to sing along too and reminded me a lot of the killers for some reason.

Its a classic band but i felt that this sound wasn't the mature soud of this band.

Ganska tråkigt. Hann bara lyssna en gång. Kanske hade varit bättre annars.

I like them well enough but don't usually hold me for the whole album. It's got the Mike Mo song so I'll give it up. Will I listen to again: 30%

Another one that doesn’t do it for me. I appreciate the person who put together this website but I question who originally put together the thousand and one best albums to listen to. I sure would like a different list. I’m disappointed for more often not, and I have such a wide appreciation for music. 2

An album that I had actually listened to before! My Body Is a Cage has become one of my favorite songs ever, and it happened because I randomly saw an edit of Once Upon a Time in the West with it.

Aggressively mediocre. All the non-singles sound the same.

I was so hyped for this when it came out after loving Funeral so much. It let me down then and still does little for me.

I could listen to My Body is Cage over and over, but nothing else grabs me

I was obsessed with the first three Arcade Fire albums - they are a very dramatic band and they came out when I was a dramatic adolescent/young adult. The single that came out in 2022 was among the most crap songs that I've heard in the past few years and it turns out that their frontman has joined the hallowed pantheon of dirtbag rock singers, but I think this album will give me the good nostalgia feels today.

ihre stimme nervt und er ist 1 creep aber es ist trotzdem ein gutes album gute geigen nostalgie +punkt...

Another surprise from Arcade Fire, where I realize that if I had listened to them in my early teenage years (instead of avoiding them because I associated them with a certain type of person) I would've been a very different type of annoying! Good stuff here! This is a very high 4 for me. I can't give it a 5 due to fundamentally being trained to view this sort of thing as inherently annoying and cringey, but who am I to say no to a little baroque pop.... Can't stop thinking about the middle of My Body Is a Cage, where it bursts into The Beatles I Want You (She's So Heavy).... the Beatles really were the greatest to do it. Anyway, back to Arcade Fire! Favorites: Intervention, the Well and the Lighthouse, (Antichrist Television Blues), Windowsill

Pretty decent album

Definitely more than the sum of its parts. Not Arcade Fire’s best album, and some songs here, taken individually, are pretty weak. But the whole thing builds in a good way. I like the placement of the “No Cars Go” climax with the denouement of “My Body is a Cage”.

Never heard anything from them that wasn't Funeral, glad to make it out of that group. Neon Bible is a very grand, very ambitious and well structured album. Lots of emotion poured into the lyrics and lots of thought put into the build up of each song. Most of the time I can feel myself getting lost in the production and I don't mind it at all. The drums and strings just do it for me every time it's ridiculous. I feel free, I feel at peace. The entirety of Black Mirror and No Cars Go are thrilling and addictive every time I hear them. I would recommend putting your friends and family onto this LP. Stellar intro, Stellar exit. Few tracks I felt a little more meh but good regardless.

Few songs to go

Meh

I like it. I liked today, out for lunch in a cafe in a hidden corner, and sitting by the river in the sunny afternoon with Lucas. this fit well will the long and chill evening which capped off a long and gloriously unproductive week. I just don't really get why this album's on this list. it feels good, and polished, yet kind of... default. but, then I guess that's why

This just felt fine. I'd listen to it again but it wasn't that exciting really

Did not enjoy

It’s alright. No real feelings. Not great, but not bad either.

I gave this a second listen and I'm glad I did. It made a much stronger impression the second time through. Some good tunes. I am not sure if this record is inspired, or not, but it certainly has quality. Unique sound.

I don't think I really ever heard Arcade Fire before this, but listened to many other bands similar to their sound. I will say, I definitely really enjoyed this album. "Keep The Car Running" was probably my favorite song off of this album, and definitely hit a nostalgia bone in body that brought me back to high-school - driving around at night with my friends, trying to not get in trouble somewhere but embracing what we though was "freedom" at the time. There were a few songs that kind of blended together for me or that didn't hit as hard as that one, which is why I am hesitant to give it a perfect 5 star rating. But I will say, this is an album I will happily return to! Maybe in time, it will grow into a 5. Favorite songs and top mentions: Keep The Car Running, Windowsill, Antichrist Television Blues, and No Cars Go.

Pas mal 2.75

J’ai préféré l’autre d’avant, jsuis peut-être juste pas dans l’mood

Not the album to get into after a day of baseball, drinking, and sunshine, although just about right for the morning after. Glad I gave it a second chance. Did I hear cello? Glockenspiel? This is really well put together. Not something I'll likely go back to, but I can really appreciate what they put into this. Rounding up to 4 stars

another one i'm surprised ive never heard in whole. I think this is a great record. In a similar way to Ella Fitzgerald listening to this sound like a record someone made to mimic Fall Out Boy when really this record is what created the impression.

One star off because Winn's a creep. Soundtrack of my life for a year back then.

To me, Keep the Car Running is a perfect pump-you-up song. The beat makes me want to do calisthenics. There are some other good songs, but that one is a stand out. There are other times where I feel the vibe is too dramatic and overwrought. Overall, I like the album, though it’s not on regular rotation 3.9

Sounds soft and muddy. I can't tell if it's youtube or some issue with my laptop, but it's so quiet. I think I like this better than their next album, but I wasn't particularly moved. It has all the ingredients of something I would be into, but I'm just not. There's nothing I actively dislike, but nothing I really enjoy. 3.2 (I read my review of their next album and I must have liked it. I don't remember that.)

i really like Arcade Fire

Prettty good

C'était vraiment cool.

Much preferred this one over funeral. Out is the somewhat boring indie rock, in with the more uptempo and upbeat instrumentation. The electronic touches are nice too. Sounds a lot like what a lot of early 2010’s rock tried to be.

This sounds like something that most people like because it was what they listened to when they were younger, like 17 or 22, not because it’s terribly good. And even then I have a hunch they mainly listened to it because it was “indie,” so it made them cool to be included in that scene. Now I assume the appeal here is nostalgia, because try as I might I can’t find anything of interest here.

Second Arcade Fire album in three days. The last one was Funeral. I described my love/hate relationship with Arcade Fire then. I bought this album cheap at a charity shop recently so have listened to it a few times. It is a grower and more enjoyable than Funeral. The track Intervention is brilliant and the stand out track for me. One or two other good tracks but one or two duff ones too. Glad to have the album in my collection as Arcade Fire are a big band and I feel should have them in my collection but there are plenty of other contemporary bands which I like a lot more. 3/5 15/5/24

Neben Orchester und Chor verwendet das eine Drehleier , eine Mandoline , ein Akkordeon und eine Pfeifenorgel. Dies macht die teil rockigen teils poppigen Songs aus dem Jahr 2007 interessant und kurzweilig. Gut gefallen haben „Intervention“, „No Cars Go“ und das furiose Orgelfinale „My Body Is A Cage“. Zur Wiederholung empfohlen.

All sounds the same

Pretty decent, more of a 3.5 but I feel it may grow on me

Good one, liked them from back in the day...

booo

Never liked the indie guitar sound. There's something too tinny and shoegaze about it all. Regardless, there's some good songs on here and over the runtime it slowly opens up as I acclimatise to it. Some oomph and this could have been great.

Favourite song- Keep the car running

They don’t vary much, in my view. Not bad, not amazing. How does one pick their best album?

Not outstanding in any regard, which in a way is kind of impressive.

This was really good. More than the singles good.

Great alternative albu

Good album sounds similar to the killers

Not as good as Suburbs. This kind of indie suffers from wooden melodies and self-important, bomastic climaxes. +1 extra star for No Cars Go.

más corny de lo que recuerdo

Estaba bien, tiene sentido xq my body es a cage es el single y la canción más interesante

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

4.1 I like arcade fire and I like this, but they do have better albums. IMO Arcade Fire is one of the few popular modern bands, that still have a lot of artistic integrity.

- Pretty good indie vibes - I feel like I gotta go back to this album and listen to it more - The Well and the Lighthouse is a banger - Interesting how the most popular songs are the last two on the album

- felt like it had potential but it was never realized

Gets overshadowed by Funeral and career best The Suburbs, but this is a terrific AF album. It’s not as consistent as either of those albums though standouts like Keep the Car Running, Intervention, and (Antichrist Television Blues) reach similar heights. My Body Is a Cage is an incredible closing track.

favs: no cars go, black mirror likes: keep the car running, ocean of noise, the well and the lighthouse

I couldn't get into this at all. Sounded like a bunch of moody teenagers. Made it all the way through though, so it gets 2 stars.

I bought tickets to one of their concerts in the first 20 rows around 2010’ish . I don’t go to many concerts and I usually don’t spend much if I do, but I really enjoyed their music, so I splurged. About two weeks out I get an email that the band is strongly encouraging everyone attending dress up like them. Which I guess is a mix of an old school carny and the sale rack at hot topic. My wife and I decided to try to sell the tickets because we weren’t into cosplay and just wanted to watch a good show. Well, we couldn’t sell the tickets and we couldn’t give them away so we didn’t go and we were out the couple hundred bucks for the tickets. Not sure if that makes us the douche bags for not playing along or the band wanting their fans to dress up like them. Anyways, this one’s called wonderwall.

Not a favorite.

Bit dull

never knowingly listened to Arcade Fire before, though of course I've heard of the band. was surprised to learn Keep The Car Running was on this album, I remember liking this song when I was a teenager not knowing who sings it. good, classic 2000s indie

I've already listened to Funeral and The Suburbs (both by Arcade Fire) on this list, and gave them both a 3 for similar reasons. I enjoyed this album slightly more than those two, though it could be because I was listening to it with higher quality headphones. But even so... eh. The songs aren't very catchy, which is really the band's only obvious downfall – but it's a big downfall. Otherwise, I can think of some definite pros: The tracks sound really well produced, layered with slow, contemplative synths and percussion. With good noise-cancelling headphones, I could appreciate this production more. The opening track, Black Mirror, was actually pretty fire. If every song had been that much of a moody, mildly catchy adventure, the album could've scored 4 stars or even higher. The song Black Wave / Bad Vibrations, on the other hand, was Black Mirror's brutal antithesis: it was just uninteresting. The remaining tracks fell somewhere in between these in terms of quality, and while I liked all of them, I didn't love any of them. The dramatic touch in this album, seen with is a fun addition that I didn't really notice in Funeral or The Suburbs. Especially liked the organs in Intervention. Close, so close, to 4 stars. I believe in you, Arcade Fire! Just don't be so pretentious and use those musical chops to make something worth bopping to! Key tracks: Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, Intervention, (Antichrist Television Blues)

Doesn’t hit like Funeral. It’s fine.

mid downloaded one song

Пиздатый альбом

Muzikaal en prettig, maar verder niet bijzonder.

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

Het klinkt een beetje Britpoppig, het kabbelt voorbij, ik was eerlijk gezegd vergeten dat ik het had opgezet. Het doet denken aan een boel andere dingen, maar het mist elke vorm van wauw-factor.

Het geluid van het eerste nummer is heel opvallend. De tekst is niet heel ingewikkeld, maar soms nauwelijks te verstaan. Het wordt overdonderd door de geluidseffecten. En als je dan niet heel duidelijk articuleert... En iets later is het geluid ineens heel blikkerig. Dus hop, internet op, want wat is hier aan de hand. Het is in de kerk opgenomen. Ah. Verklaart ook het orgel later. De rest van het album heeft ook wel een geluidsboost, maar zo gek als bij het eerste nummer wordt het gelukkig niet meer. Buiten dat effect zijn de nummers op zich prima, maar wekken ze zelden mijn interesse. Kwestie van smaak. Ach, drie sterren is het wel waard.

Lichtelijk theatrale festivalmuziek, met een stem die me aan Blaudzun doet denken. Of waarschijnlijker is dat Johannes Sigmond een beetje wanna-be Arcade Fire is. Hoe dan ook passen de termen indie (wat natuurlijk een catch-all categorie is) en baroque pop best aardig. Het zit muzikaal degelijk in elkaar, prima drumpartijen, sfeervolle gitaarpartijen, toeters en bellen (en strijkers) op zijn tijd, goede zangstemmen. No Cars Go is de hit, die we nog regelmatig op de alternatieve radio horen. Ik kan hier prima naar luisteren, ook al is het niet helemaal mijn muziek.

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.

I think I preferred the suburbs but again the album was a real grower and I think I need a couple more listens to be sure. Arcade fire don't have any obvious hooks and I'm not sure what I enjoy so much about them. They definitely sound darker and more unexpected than most indie bands. There were some weaker tracks that while not being bad just didn't go anywhere. Right now it's a 4 but likely to change.

I can't muster the same kind of enthusiasm as the other lads for this one. Nice enough in the background. Sounds a bit like an orchestral Coldplay with different singing.

Since "The Suburbs" came on this list I have grown to love it more and more, so getting another Arcade Fire album is a nice surprise. Just like "The Suburbs" I think this is an album that I'm going to enjoy more with subsequent listens but I don't think it quite reaches the same level. I really like Peter Gabriel's version of "My Body Is a Cage", I had not realised it was originally an Arcade Fire song. This version is also phenomenal, I love the build up of the organ. Highlights: Keep the Car Running Intervention My Body Is a Cage

Not as good as suburbs, but still very good. I'm surprised how many arcade fire songs I know, given I've never listened to them before. Highlights here were: Keep the car running No cars go Intervention 3.5, but closer to a 4

To my own surprise, I don’t hate it, but it definitely doesn’t feel essential in any way. It feels less put-on than The Suburbs, that’s for sure, but it still believes it’s deeper than it actually is. But the melodies are also very catchy, and while the compositions are a bit overwrought with twee orchestration, it never reaches the tipping point where it becomes annoying. I do think a lot of these songs overstay their welcome, though. I also don’t love Butler’s voice, its tone gets under my skin, and I personally would’ve loved to have more of Chassagne’s vocals doing these songs instead. I think this album actually helps me understand my disinterest in Arcade Fire. Musically, while it’s not my personal typical cup of tea, I think it’s very good and interesting, although it’s always at risk of crossing the line and becoming “too much.” At the same time, lyrically, it feels pretentious and try-hard, straight out of a bad poetry workshop. They are the definition of “one step forward, two steps back” for me. On top of that, while I know they were big at the time, I’m not convinced that they actually had any influence; almost two decades later, I don’t hear this sound or aesthetic coming from anyone who wasn’t originally from this scene. And that makes it feel unessential. More importantly, the pros and cons of listening to this albun even out in my ears, and I’m still not putting on Arcade Fire any time soon on my own volition. But at least Neon Bible is a tolerable listen, so there’s that.

all the last few albums have been male manipulator dad rock. i need something new. this album was new though! arcade fire if they listened to too much bruce springsteen.

I fell like I’ve been living under a rock because I’ve never heard of them until this morning. This album took me by surprise to say the least and I thoroughly enjoyed every track on the album. Such an easy listen and especially great for a train ride into the city. Definitely adding this album into the rotation!

sad christian rock

I really like Arcade Fire. This is a good album and worth 4 stars.

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.

The organ was an unexpected and delightfully over the top touch! It and the crystal clear production helped dress up occasionally awkward lyrics.

I was a fan of this first time around, had the CD and saw Arcade Fire in Paris circa 2011. I hadn't listened to the full album for maybe a decade so was excited to come back to it. Keep the car running is an absolute masterpiece, but the rest of it didn't stand out much. I used to think this was so deep and articulate, but now it struck me as "im15andthisisdeep". I'm off to listen to Funeral which I have more hope for.

What a load of crap.

4 - Solid good album, on the verge of me wondering why it's on the list but maybe it's because the more modern albums are too close? Dunno if that makes sense but i'm going with it

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

I know of two people called Win. This guy and the dog that lives at arsenal's training ground. I liked this but I've never given arcade fire much time. 4 for now but maybe I could love it.

love arcade fire!

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

Great background: nothing memorable, nothing disturbed

Boring ahh radiohead LCD soundsystem without oomph punk.. Rebellion.. No rebellion..

I enjoyed some of the songs but nothing really stood out. A good indie band for sure.

Not for me

This was an OK album. I had no real draw to it. Over all well produced but not super interested. 3/5

It's decent. I know I would probably like it better if I spent some more time analyzing the lyrics but lets be real that's to much like homework for me right now.

Loved it!

Really enjoyed the drums in this one. Really unique.

I love this album, especially the anthems.

If this is the birth of Indie Rock, I am glad it didn’t end here.

Had never heard this group or album before. I really enjoyed it. Definitely gonna look up more of their music. I was wondering if this would ever happen in this over 3 year endeavor. Well done 1001 album generator.

Terrible

Album was okay, not really memorable

I used to love them but after learning he’s a d*ck and part of the Me Too problem o can’t support that

Such a boring band but I have this theory that if I was 13 years old when I first heard them I would have loved them. But yes, boring. Apart from No Cars Go, which is a really good song.

That was bad, like terrible. I hit play... Skip... Skip... Skip... And stop... No thank you.

Fine. Just fine. Nothing that blew my hair back. My Body Is A Cage is a favorite, there's really nothing else from this album I enjoyed.

This isn't their best work, but it's pretty damn fine. Would prefer The Suburbs

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

Such a step down from Funeral.

I really liked this - it was grandiose and entertaining and different and I loved the church acoustics/theme. I’m rating it a 4 but it was almost a 5 for me.

Some of these reviews are dumb. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. Whatever. But to call this music “self-important” is stupid. These guys make solid rock music. Are they claiming to be the greatest? No. But I’m gonna say they’re my favorite band to ever come out of Canada.

excellent

something about Arcade Fire really bothers me. Bores me even. I find it hard to be objective in this rating.

mind numbing did nothing for me.

Horrible and uninteresting.

Not good, not bad...

I thought this was okay. Some catchy songs. Even though the songs were all different, they all kind of sounded the same and nothing really stood out. I wouldn't say this is an album you have to listen to before you die. It's more the kind of album you should listen to if: You just left home for university for the first time and you want to find something that's different to your Dad's Cd collection or the Pop hits of the day. Now you can put this album on in your dorm room and people won't laugh at your quaint childish music taste. Your other fresh faced Uni friends will all think this is cool and alternative. Some day, you may feel like you want something more, something deeper, more challenging something that makes you grow as your synapses have to to rewire a little. Good luck to you, it's the start of a wild journey. Best for people who have mustaches but can't quite grow them properly yet. It's like a reverse combover. We each cling to our hair identity in different ways. I'm not judging.

Will listen again

Denso, aburrido y pretencioso.

Good. my fav track was the one about God, but I don't remember what it was called since I listened to this on a bus with my eyes closed half-asleep. It's nice to get an album that isn't from the sixties or seventies once in a while.

I wasn’t enamored with The Suburbs. I think they knew clearly what they wanted that album to be. But they just didn’t stick the landing very well. And it resulted in something that was more often than not dragging its feet and meandering around the same ideas. Fortunately, I think their previous album does a lot of things better. They definitely took too many steps back in the wrong direction for the follow up. Neon Bible is mostly more of the same from a musical perspective though. It’s nothing out of the ordinary for mid-2000s Arcade Fire. But it does so many things better to keep the album moving smoother. A shorter album overall, with a more balanced set of songs that don’t feel so dragged out and overdone. I still feel this band has one glaring flaw. Many of these songs reach what sounds like the beginning of a climactic moment. When everything comes together and makes all the build up worth it. And then it just never happens. Again, it’s that idea of meandering. This album isn’t as egregious with it as the other one was. But it still pops up here and there. I was ready to finish this off and keep it in the same regard as The Suburbs. But I’ll admit when I’m wrong. Because those last three songs really brought everything together, and made this feel like a complete package. I hear so much about Funeral, and if that record sounds anything close to the closing track on this, I feel like I’m in for a treat. Rating: 7/10

Excited for this one! One of those bands I’ve always wanted to give a listen but never have for whatever reason. I know they’re seminal in the indie genre and really want to see what I’m missing. Oh. This sure sounds like…a foundational indie album from 2007…but without any real oomph. And some really bad cliches. I’m struck by how much the mirror mirror lyric feels. Bad. It reminds me of Muse. Which is bad. Are these guys Quebecois? Yes, okay the lyrics MIGHT be more forgivable. But just, flavor, and there never seems to be much of a payoff in these songs. The biggest issue is comparing this to what came before and what came after from other acts in the genre this is just so soulless, nothing is BAD, but nothing stands out either. So many songs on this album end triumphantly, but come up feeling flaccid. I’m probably gonna lay most of the blame on the singer whose voice lacks the power to match the strings surrounding him. And generally the lyrics are just, bland nothing, I love the mainstream reviews that say this is a statement on the Bush era, and it sure is, it says and accomplishes nothing like so many passionless and meaningless protests that ruled the era. Its a 2.5 really

Sometimes, I think Arcade Fire is just generic indie 2000s rock, and sometimes, I guess I should look closer to Arcade Fire because it is pretty good stuff. This album was definitely the second case.

This was good, not great. Nothing too memorable, but never unhappy it was on.

Early 2000s people would hate me. I don’t like Arcade Fire.

An odd selection from the Arcade Fire. I'm of similar age to the band, so their phases affect me similarly since I'm likely dealing with the same thing at the same time. This album always crosses me as an album about becoming an adult and aware of the noise around you, whereas their first album was more about the dreaming nostalgia of youth. The album speaks to me. (Antichrist Television Blues) is my highlight and positioned well into the album peaking with a existential crisis call. Slowly the album collapses under the passion of My Body is a Cage, the toil of growing up preventing the desires of the individual. The Arcade Fire often feels like a band of evens and odds. Their odd numbered albums, to me, are the most acclaimed. The evens are sneaky. This is an even album. It's sneaky. I don't think it should be on this list, but I do love it.

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?

I like the last song

Ok

Good alternative rock.

Breathtaking production with catchy chord progressions. Mixing may be off as the vocals may be hard to hear.

Not For Me...

Better than the first one. There were some exciting songs here!

1. Black Mirror - 2.5/5 2. Keep the Car Running - 5/5 3. Neon Bible - 4. Intervention 5. Black Wave / Bad Vibrations - 6. Ocean of Noise 7. The Well and the Lighthouse - 4/5. I like the lulling/lilting sort of melody? Idk how to explain that. I think it's the time signature. 8. (Antichrist Television Blues) - (okay I guess I got bored of doing that when I listened on Friday) but overall I like this, it feels livelier than their other one we listened to (The Funeral?

Reminded me a bit of The Killers, the vocals are a bit annoying, production quality was mixed. + for the use of a pipe organ, but - for the excessive use of it in Intervention. No Cars Go was the only thing that stood out for me.

Singers voice is miserable

all of the songs sounded the same

i never understood the appeal of arcade fire

Never a fan and still am not, but I do think they create a fairly creative body of work here.

Great album. Each song has its place.

putting a bumper sticker on my car that says “honk if u <3 baroque rock”

Fine but nothing stood out

boring. felt like i was exploding. not my kind of thing at all but happy i gave it a shot. it wasn’t technically bad in any sense so it gets three stars just because i feel certain there will be worse that needs the two stars spot but i want it noted that i was becoming quite sick of it towards the end

Meh.

I remember being hyped into buying an Arcade Fire CD way back when. For some reason I didn't think they were great then, and it hasn't aged well for me. Ho-hum pretentious rock.

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.

4.49

Great album. Some nice catchy tunes

In an ocean of noise I still remember this vividly almost 2 decades later

The music was OK but the lyrics were disgraceful

Don't really have much to say about this one

Solid, if a little pretentious

Solid Arcade Fire with a few standouts

Okay

3.3. It sounds like it was recorded at the bottom of a swimming pool and then played over the pa at an elementary school gym.

What a time for Indie rock. Solid album.

I really liked it musically, although I'm a bigger fan of Funeral because of this album's in-the-face anti-Christian message. Music was classic 2000s indie sound though, which I love.

In my opinion, the first two Arcade Fire albums aren’t nearly as good their third or fourth. But still, not a bad song amongst them. I might even prefer “Neon Bible” to a degree over “Funeral” simply because I haven’t quite heard these songs 1 million times yet. If I’m being honest, for whatever reason, I’ve grown tired of Arcade Fire’s sound over the years, especially when it comes to these first two albums. Maybe I’ll come back around some day. These days, I’m just not that interested in the mid-aughts thing that saw indie folk-rock ensembles balloon up to the size of orchestras donning funny hats and making radio-friendly sounds for Pitchfork, car commercials and Coachella. Not that it’s bad at all. It’s actually good. Just kind of one-note and polished where they could be more passionate. That said I’ve gone through my share of phases with Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, et al., and could go through one again, that’s just where I’m at in 2024.

This is the Arcade Fire album I never got around to listening to in high school. If I had, I probably would have resonated very strongly with its bleak desperation, its biting criticism, its gothic and melodramatic affect. And just now I'd be penning an interview full of nostalgia for being 17. But now it's been 15 years, and it just feels a little too on the nose for me! But I can't deny how bold and bright they're going for. They're kind of a force. Might not be your cup of tea, but you have to sit up and pay attention, because they're going for broke. I just don't resonate as much with the tone. Really cool record though. A conflicted 3/5

If the Cure and Transiberian Orchestra had a band fronted by David Bowie, this would be it.

to be honest, i was kind of bored with this one.

This band just doesn’t go anywhere musically for me. I just wait for it to hit second gear and it rarely does. The lead singer guy is apparently a fucking creep, too.

Decent! Sounds like Kings of Leon

Bastante bueno, aunque no es del todo mi estilo

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

boring

Fantastic album. I love AF and this is one of their best. Catchy hooks, decent production, and tons of potential. It's not perfect, but it's always a fun liste. Also one of the more influential indie albums of its time.

Not listened to Arcade Fire before. Pretty good. Different.

I didn't like this. I kind of zoned out through most of it to be honest, and now its done I can't remember a single track.

First listen in 15 years. Confirms that it's not a bad album, but my least favourite by Arcade Fire.

keep the car running, intervention, ocean of noise, no cars go

There are some great tracks. Ocean of Noise is a classic. But there are also some duffers and some of it is a bit overwrought for me. Not my favourite album from this band.

The crybaby bitch award goes to Neon Bible. I just can't dig the 80's hipster sound.

Very good, definitely recommend

Could be a grower

Altough they came from my town of Montréal i never listen to them and in indie rock in general to be honnest

I like Ocean of Noise. The rest of the album just feels like an ocean of noise

I realized when I started listening that I had never sat through an entire Arcade Fire album before, despite being a big fan of some of their songs. So I was a little disappointed that a few of the songs dragged, in places. Overall, I still enjoyed the album, but not as much as I hoped that I would. 3.5/5, rounded up. Favorite track: "No Cars Go," easily.

We're really just going back into my high school / college life recently? Not their apex, but still a damn good album that has no fat. 4/5

oh my god this is literally the best thing i've listened to in a WHIILLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Good multi-instrument band. This album presents some Arcade Fire hits.

It's ok, some great moments, others a bit much. 2.5/5

Has some tenets of music I tend to enjoy, but Arcade Fire seem to lean into the arena pop/alt-rock just that little too much. I end up cringing more than I feel catharsis. No Cars Go is close to Of Monsters and Men levels. There's enough to admire in the musicianship, but it's all a bit overblown. Fave track: Intervention

I had been putting off listening to this record as I thought I’d hate it, but honestly didn’t find too much to dislike. It’s nothing unexpected from the group, but still solid songwriting. Maybe not entirely my favourite style of indie rock that I gravitate towards most, but I kinda liked this album. Three stars. Fave track: No Cars Go

A little slow and ponderous for me.

Damn this whole album feels so grand, the organ sounds ethereal. I would listen to it on repeat!!

This was awesome…

Very good, also very preachy. Still loved it though.

Really creative stuff here.

Good

More my style. Solid alt/indy rock band

I liked Funeral a lot when it came out, but I was hesitant with Neon Bible. The Arcade Fire had settled on a sweeping, big sound and narrative drive that reminded me so much of musical theatre. And that's not a bad thing, per se. But hearing another album come out from that same group amounts to a feeling like a musical sequel. You know how many good musical sequels there are? I doubt any of you'd ever give "Love Never Dies" a chance. My point is I'd already played out Arcade Fire when this came, and unlike a more reasonable-sized group they couldn't really change their tricks around from one album to the next. The songs keep crescendoing, the autobiographical family-dying stuff starts to veer towards Eminem's mom territory. Interestingly, I had friends who first heard about them with this album, and the consensus seemed to be that this one is better than Funeral. They might be right, actually, but how the hell would I know?

One of my favourite albums of all time. Has a feel of a modern Bruce Springsteen. I think the boss would approve.

Black Mirror sets the tone with a real pop vibe - something I'm not a fan of. Kept the car running - Happy Clappy crap. Neon Bible - slow and ok Intervention - dreadful It drones on and on, track by track, in the same vein. Not for me. It's a 1 star

Guess you had to be there for this one.

Not as good as the suburbs

could not get into it. its just okay. desperately need to relisten

Pretty good offering, even though I am not as good at focusing on lyrics I could pick up a thematic element to these songs.

This album wraps me in a warm embrace of personal storytelling, with deeply moving melodies and lyrics that feel like the artist's soul laid bare.

eh

Fantastic!

8.7

Good.

Black Mirror: 4/10 mid Keep the Car Running: 6/10 best song ig Neon Bible: 4/10 Intervention: 3/10 what is happening here Black Wave / Bad Vibrations: 5/10 Ocean of Noise: 5/10 The Well and the Lighthouse: /10 (Antichrist Television Blues): /10 Windowsill: /10 No Cars Go: /10 My Body Is a Cage: /10

1-Black Mirror I really love the sound of the occasional piano chords in the background in this song. The change to female vocals and then back to male vocals in the song is really well done, keeps the song fresh and not repetitive. 2-Keep The Car Running This song screams “walk of shame” to me, I can imagine coming home from the club and listening to this song, good song for the right circumstances. 3-Neon Bible Not my favourite so far in this album but is also a nice song for melancholy moods. 7- The Well and The Lighthouse This song feels like what a daydream is 8-(Antichrist Television Blues) This song really suits the lead’s voice, the guitar and drums really brings out the rock genre that suits the lead vocals. Not a huge fan of the subject matter/lyrics but has definitely trumped tracks 4,5,6 in this album. 10- No Cars Go The instrumental with the bass guitar at around ~2:10 and ~3:00 is a nice listen and really redeems the song for me, definitely one of my favourites from this album. 11-My Body Is A Cage Really grandiose instrumentals on this song, very theological. This is like if Radiohead were Christian, and it works super well. ——————————————————————— 4-Intervention Really didn’t like the heavy church elements in this song (orphan, bells) When the song picked up to chorus I started to like this song, but then I didn’t- it’s too “Whiney” for me, this is possibly due to the monotonous nature of the vocals in this track and how it feels like there is no “build up” or variety in the melody(?) 5- Black Wave/Bad Vibrations Song started off good, reminded me of the B-52s, but then it got too “Whiney” for me again 6-Ocean of Noise I would love this if I actually liked the lead singer’s voice. I like the background music but not his voice (I think his voice lacks personality and distinction.) 9- Windowsill Had to skip this song, I don’t like the first 2 minutes of it, after that when it picks up it does get better but I can’t add this song to my playlist if I can’t stand to hear the first two minutes. I don’t like the repetitive nature of the lyrics (“I don’t” x50) not my style. My Top 3: My Body is A Cage Black Mirror No Cars Go

--------------- Black Mirror Keep the Car Running Neon Bible Intervention Black Wave / Bad Vibrations Ocean of Noise The Well and the Lighthouse (Antichrist Television Blues) Windowsill No Cars Go My Body Is a Cage they r all not good. not horrible enough for 1 tho

Intriguing record, not every song catches me during my first listening, but I kinda wanna come back to the album. Intervention is the best track so far, staying with me after the album is finished. It dances between 4 and 5 stars, but especially the high variety of the tracks pushes it into 5 stars.