Reviews (page 7 of 13)
i can't help but compare this to Funeral, and it doesn't come close. I had to look up Win Butler after so many reviewers here mentioned (typically) that they like the music but don't like him. I'm not sure he's guilty of anything, and if he is I don't care. This album would get 3 stars regardless.
I liked it ... but I shouldn't look at the lyrics.
No Cars Go was pretty solid
not bad, kind of a weird mix of arctic monkeys and mumford and sons
OK, this album. THIS ALBUM. Funeral came out when I was 15 and I was obsessed with it. I liked The Suburbs when it came out as well. I didn't really listen to their later stuff after that apart from a couple of songs on Reflektor, and obviously recently all the bad stuff has emerged and there's lots that can be said about that. But THIS ALBUM. I'm sorry. There are just some albums that appear in a certain time in your life and can't be untangled from your life and that's it. I'm not gonna write an essay here about whether we should separate the art from the artist or not etc etc etc. There are artists I can't listen to anymore. But THIS album, these songs. I just can't let them go. I just started typing out some stuff about the period of my life when I started listening to this album and then I thought, do I really want to share this with the 1001 albums generator website hahaha. Let's just say it was my first year of uni, I was a really unhappy and confused and messed-up person in a lot of ways, and this album just ended up soundtracking a lot of stuff. Every single song on this album means something to me. I get a lump in my throat listening to it now. Today just for a change I've listened to A Giant Dog's cover of the entire album and it's fun, but it does just make me want to go back and listen to the original anyway.
Enjoyed listening to this album, it felt engaging and diverse. Particularly enjoyed the title track and the opener.
From the quintessential 00s alternative rock group itself comes Neon Bible. I must say, I’ve never dived into Arcade Fire’s catalog to any capacity, but just from the exposure I got to them from this album I quite like them. It was a great album and I really liked a decent number of the tracks. Looking forward to listening to more of their more essential works.
nije loše
This and their album Funeral are sooooooo much better than The Suburbs. Both are five star albums but it's all downhill from here for this band
I really like this, some don’t hit, but overall it hits
Pre-listening thoughts: oh brother not this stupid band again 🍅 listen I liked the suburbs but like I think this is maybe the most overrated band oat. There is no reason for them to have three albums on this list. Post/during listening thoughts: man some parts of this were really good and some were just… not. Every time this album slowed down it was actually unbearable. But some of the more upbeat and layered songs really grabbed my attention back. This to me is the worst parts of Funeral mixed with the best parts of The Suburbs. Listen at your own risk. 5.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: The Well and the Lighthouse, No Cars Go Least fav tracks: Neon Bible, Ocean of Noise
For some reason I find myself shying away from Arcade Fire. Like, for some reason I feel like I don't like them, or I'm not going to like them, or I don't want to like them, or I shouldn't like them, but then whenever I hear them I can't deny that they seem to be pretty great and that I think I kind of like them. But the final track lost the five rating for me. So close. 4.75
Neon bible?! How about Neon Babble. The music is sonically fine and I can see why it was influential in creating the stomp/clap music like Mumford and Sons... or more like Blandford and Sons! I digress... But the lyrics on this album are just unbelievably cringy. Like, embarrassingly bad. I only made it to Black Wave/Vibrations before I just couldn't do it anymore. They sound like 15 year old trying to be clever but missing the mark. I would give this 0 stars if I could because of how bad the lyrics are. Would not listen again. Two thumbs down.
Arcade fire n’est vraiment pas pour moi.
From my childhood
WORKING FOR THE CHURCH WHILE YOUR FAMILY DIES
I'm going to skip this one.
I had not listened to this nor Funeral in full in over a decade. I’ve always liked Neon Bible, but after revisiting both albums I gotta say I like Neon Bible more. At the very least it deserves the same positive reception that Funeral has always gotten.
Okay, not their best in my opinion
What a great album. The first thing that grabs you from the opening tracks is that driving, piano-heavy rhythm. It doesn't sound like other rock songs, it "pulses". Lyrically this is right in my sweet spot, commenting on media saturation, war, religion, and disillusionment. The vocals seem to almost sit "outside" the arrangement but the harmonies bring it all back in. Made me think of everyone trying to be an individual but that cultural "back beat" of day to day western culture drags along even if we see it for what it is. "Black Mirror", "Ocean of Noise"and “My Body Is a Cage” say so much without spelling everything out. Dylan would love the lyrics and Springsteen and Joy division echo in the arrangement.,
Its alright
I liked it, will need to come back to it
Another day, another 21st century indie rock band. And .. not a lot to say about this one. If I had been the right age when this was new might have been interesting at the time, but I am not and had already listened to what obviously influenced this. It’s a bit too full of itself and overblown, and in my vacuum, never heard a note by them before, seems a little soulless and an empty sounding recording, surprisingly given their name lacks any real fire, like they are a shoe gazing poetry recital without any actual emotion. Springsteen is one of the keywords, really? That’s a wannabe stretch, if you squint real hard at a thousand yards at twilight on a moon less night. Just meh to these ears, 2 Star
Best Song: Intervention I didn't like this as much as I liked Funeral but that isn't taking much away since I really loved Funeral. This is a good, solid album. 5/5.
Alright
I haven't heard this album much since it's release and subsequent years when it was so popular in the early 2010's. Honestly without the bias of hearing it constantly everywhere it's really good. The vocals are still suspect to me as it's one of those signs of the times where everyone was using those wavering high vibrato styles, but it's good. Intervention might be one of the best songs of the generation. It's so big. On the second listen Keep the Car Running is a banger. I think the craziest thing about this album is that it was the advent of an entire generation of music in the indie genre. Basically everyone tried to capture this exact sound after it came out. There's about 10 years of indie pop and rock that mirrors this sound scape
Like the band but really only cared for one song
The first song of this album is such a weird way to kick it off. The tone is completely different than the rest of the album
Indie’s worst impulses. Yuck
Really appreciated the grandiosity of the production--the epic organ on Intervention stands out. Seeing some apt Springsteen comparisons and I endorse all of them, good and bad. Not sure I'll ever listen to this again so by definition it can't earn more than a three, which I grant it.
Doomy-gloomy but ultimately didn't leave much of a mark. Only on the third playthrough did it really start to leave an impression. The lead sounds like the Boss really straining for extra emotion. (probably a 2.5)
hier zaten verbazend genoeg een paar goeie nummers tussen...
Demasiado intensos pero muy buenos.
Not my style but to each their own.
Decent.
Perri. Hinar plöturnar eru betri. Þetta er milennial U2.
Arcade Fire er góð hljómsveit, en bæði Funeral og Suburbs eru miklu betri plötur. 3,5.
Very good album
Loved this as Funeral's followup when it came out. The organ destroys in the opening and closing songs. Saw this tour too. I really liked it. Since then my enthusiasm had waned, and that's without considering the ickyness of Wynn Butler's behaviors that have come out in more recent years. On its own though, it's still a really great, but not perfect, album. 4/5
i wish the tracks had a bit more variety in between them but regardless good instrumentation i like it im liking it
This is the kind of Canadian and US collaboration we need
An album that definitely does not have that sophomore slump that so many other bands have with their second album. Love that constant drum beat on No Cars Go.
Albumsito chill. Siento que a mostrar 50 lo disfrutaré más por alguna razón (?
Me gustó, stone misterioso para dejar de fondo
Tremendo, lindo para escuchar algo nuevo pero con vibes a otra banda cuyo nombre no recuerdo
No me dijo nada. Podria ser una bandita en festival que mire antes del show principal
I think I hated this but now it’s good? Let’s find out. I guess I hate the Suburbs and love Funeral.
Tässä on vähän sellaisia Lumineers folk viboja ja sit vahvaa britti poprockia. Mutta tää jää vähän vaisuksi silti. Ei vaan ollut mitään niin iskevää. Parhaat: Neon Bible, No Cars Go
Not their best album and had a very ‘killers’ sound and vibe with was a bit spooky! Good for a listen but nothing flash!
I didn't mind this one, very mid naughties sound. Doubt I'd give it another spin though
Nice
My general attitude towards Arcade Fire is that I like them, but I don't love them, so it's four stars from me.
The fairly niche genre of Stadium Maudlin.
Don’t think I bothered with it as an album before
Perfect Indie Rock record
Listened while I did admin work…. It was so uncaptivating that I didn’t realize the album had ended and restarted.
Pretty boring
its alright, all the songs sound the same
i feel this is underrated in their discography as it’s overshadowed by funeral and the suburbs but this had some gems on it that i enjoyed, not as good as the 2 mentioned but has good qualities to it
Pretentious, repetitive, faux intellectual drivel
liked a lot more than expected
Dull Dull Dull
At the time I thought this was a big step down from the magnificent 5-star debut Funeral, and still do today. Stand out track “No Cars Go” rehashed here from their debut EP issued four years earlier.
He's a creepy fucker... but just taking the record on its own, it still holds up. High quality, higly considered indie music.
Feels like they rushed to fill a gap between their first two GOOD albums with unlimited cliches and rushed melodies. Leave the Car Running carries the whole album, and gives a taste of patience to the overall sound. Nonessential Arcade Fire, sadly.
This band meant a world to me back in my twenties. Neon Bible may not quite as good as their debut album Funeral, but it's a great work in its own right. There is some kind of millennial sadness or pathos to this music. It makes one feel seen and it's a thing of beauty.
Pas sur. Très tassé. Body is a cage cest bo.
kinda disappointing and im an arcade fire fan. this was a step down from their previous work but it makes for good lullaby music also im not even religious get away ..
Oh my god. That is a great disappointment. I never listened to a whole Arcade Fire album and it is horrible. The melodies are too cluttered, most of the lyrics are shallow and simple, and the delivery of Butler on the vocals are tiring after a while trying to mimic Bowie.i dont see the hype, really.
There was so much hype around arcade fire when this album came out. I didn’t like it then, and I still don’t think it’s all that great. Their next album, The Suburbs, is solid, and Funeral was good. Everything else they’ve made, including Neon Bible, is mediocre.
I hadn't heard Arcade Fire before this. I really enjoyed this album!
It's going for Springsteen-style catharsis, but it comes off as a little much. (I guess I could call that "trying too hard", but I think trying is a good thing and am loathe to look down on it.) Some of the sonic embellishments are more annoying than effective. There's a baffling 'ding' sound throughout a lot of these songs that irked me, and "Black Wave/Bad Vibrations" has this string motif that was also bothersome (and the female vocals on that song are mixed like she's singing at the end of a padded hallway). "(Antichrist Television Blues)" is a straight-up Springsteen impression in a manner I do not find charming. I feel like if I heard this when I was much younger I'd be into it, but unfortunately is seems like this kind of labored, classic rock-indebted indie rock rarely does it for me these days.
While hipsters in the 2000s loved their debut, Funeral, it was Neon Bible that made Arcade Fire rock stars. There was a good reason for this; The songs on Neon Bible were both accessible (i.e. not too weird) and artistic (i.e. weird enough). Their sound was unique and innovative yet followed pop song structure enough to be understood by a wider listening audience. While three songs, Keep the Car Running, the title track, and No Cars Go, stand out, all the songs are wonderful in their own quirky way. While Neon Bible is of the times, along with albums by LCD Soundsystem, The National, The Shins, and many other bands that made up that amazing decade of music, it still stands out on its own as one of the best of the decade.
This band was huge in the 2010s they had 3 number 1 albums in a row and a couple top tens before the 2010s then Covid happened... and someone accused the lead singer of some type of sexual abuse (I don't think he was ever charged or even if anything came from those allegations) and their latest album (2025's Pink Elephant) did not even chart in the Billboard 200, and I mean AT ALL whoever the accuser is/was did a lot of damage. Was the damage earned? I have no idea. To me the above is the most interesting thing about Arcade Fire. Neon Bible isn't a bad album but to me it's a very boring one. Inoffensive as warm milk. It plays and then it ends and makes no impact, good or bad on me. Boring indie rock that exists for seemingly no real reason like mildew or Mayim Bialik.
Pretty good. 3.5 stars.
Meh! Boring pretentious indie. Två!
Starts off great and then loses momentum.
This one felt average. Nothing too memorable, but not an attack on my ears. Doubt I'll revisit again, but it wasn't terrible to listen to.
Not their best album - I like these guys though
Pretty down on my list of fav AF albums
I'm kind of a sucker for these guys, though I couldn't name an album or track of theirs by name. I like the large arrangements and productions on here. They have a good feel for setting a tone and building through a song.
Boring
Just very dull! Couldn't finish.
2 Arcade Fire albums?? Already??
It was probably about 10 years ago that I last listened to this album. When it came out in spring 2007, I was a senior in high school and in a production of "Into the Woods". The day the album was released, I booked it from school to Best Buy to purchase the CD, tear it open, pop it into my Walkman which was connected to a wired cassette adaptor in my car, and narrowly make it on time to rehearsal. It was a formative album for me. Arcade Fire was one of my favorite bands in the time period from Funeral to Reflektor. It was tough to go back to Neon Bible in particular because the time that I associate this with was very tough-- leaving high school, saying goodbye to friends, the uncertainty of where I was going next, the angst I had about everything. Even listening now this album is very dark and has a lot of emotional weight, probably dragged down even deeper by my emotional baggage. It still holds up. I thought it might end up feeling cheesy (for being overly serious or overproduced, which it is in some places) or even hypocritical (re: Win Butler sexual abuse allegations). Obviously it is hard to appreciate Arcade Fire in the same way as before 2022. "Keep the Car Running" is one of their catchiest songs. "Intervention" still stirs some inner demons in me about being raising Catholic and hating it. "(Antichrist Television Blues)" actually stuck out to me the most on this re-listen-- I don't think I'd ever really listened closely to the lyrics or meaning of this song (written about the manager-father of Jessica and Ashlee Simpson) and it's better than I remembered. I'll always remember that video of them playing "Neon Bible" in an elevator, and part of the percussion is tearing pages from a phone book. And another personal memory of my friend being way too drunk and needing to hear "No Cars Go" and insisting that the "best part is at the end".
surprisingly ok
Was going to skip this album but it was a pleasant surprise.
I love the inclusion of the organs in songs. Indie moodiness is still there. I love the song "Intervention".
Really loving the vibe on this record! I love every single song. Lots of different, unexpected musical elements!
Meh. I’m still not a huge arcade fire fan, but I didn’t hate this.
Ok
Second album by the Canadian mega-band, three years after the masterpiece "Funeral". Level is almost the same, and all the song are highlights in their own.
A band and album I desperately tried to get into to be cool back in the day, but I just can't do it.
AF was inescapable in 2007. This album is fine. I remember it slightly more fondly now than I experienced it at the time. The Suburbs will still be their magnum opus, IMO. Too bad they're essentially irrelevant nowadays, thanks to Win Butler's personality defects and bullshit behaviour. A solid 3/5.
Not totally sure what to expect - never checked out Arcade Fire "in the day" due to being put off by the critical/media love-in surrounding them. Time to challenge my 14 year-old self! --- Challenge was a good word to pick earlier, this album plays out like a bit of a puzzle made up of some really disparate elements. There are moments of coldness, warmth, rolling folkiness and stabs of electric outbursts. Sort of an Appalachian Radiohead sort of direction? Swirling and swelling motions, fascinating stuff. Can see why Bowie was a fan. Favourite tracks: Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, Ocean of Noise, Windowsill
Love Arcade Fire but don't reach for this one very often. Still a banger tho.
Yes.
I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did. Grandiose, intense, and lyrically sharp; big apocalyptic energy without tipping into melodrama.
Good
Lol no way
overwrought, overly theatrical and slightly pretentious. not awful but certainly not for me and definitely not the best arcade fire album
Pretentieuze rotzooi David Bowie kloon
un sacchetto di caramelle
Saw them live on this tour with LCD Soundsystem as an opener. Tremendous display
2/5 takie nudne
самые популярные песни в конце альбома, 20 млн и 27 млн соответственно. рок как будто не 2007, а где-то середины 80-х?
Imagine dragons type shiii boring as fuck
It’s hard to listen to Arcade Fire these days with the unresolved allegations around Win Butler still circulating but I soldiered in and quite enjoyed it. The well known songs were the least interesting, probably because I’ve over-heard them, but tracks like Ocean of Noise stood out and reminded me a bit of Calexico, who I love. Epic, cinematic, US indie rock - enjoyable enough, but I much preferred their earlier album, Funeral.
Off the cuff remark: Of the 20 albums listened to so far the first that I have genuine familiarity with. Not a classic but a great "indie" album, as I would've called it. Standout Track: "Keep the Car Running" a belter Revisit?: Yes. It's been a while but nice to be back.
I didn’t expect much but was occasionally delighted. Loved Intervention. Definitely earned a 2nd listen. The mix production seemed uneven in parts.
Weak
Great Arcade Fire album. Lot's of 2000's fear and anxieties.
Second AF album in a fortnight. This was considerably inferior to Suburbs. Liked the organ and church vibes, cool they recorded in a converted church, but this was pretty boring even by 2000s indie standards
Idk man this just bounced right off me
Yawn. Next album, please.
Spannender Mix, Indie Rock, mit Orgel und schönen Melodien 4/5
Had some really good moments when I felt like I'm listening to something epic, but unfortunately it had more really dull, same note ones, that made me feel like I'm listening to the same thing over and over again.
Whilst this is obviously in the shadow of Funeral, it still has lots of merit. It's incredibly gloomy, apart from the joyous re-recording of 'No Cars Go', probably the highlight of the album, which I enjoyed revisiting.
I'm starting to think Arcade Fire is overrated.
Feels like adolescence to me, but that's not nostalgia -- the lyrics are really that immature. Sonically, this album is lush and full and still feels fresh years after the indie rock scene rose and fell. More rock bands need pipe organs. "My Body is a Cage" is an all-timer.
This isn't my favorite Arcade Fire album, but it's very solid and made the others happen.
Out of the initial three albums by Arcade Fire, probably the only one that isn't five stars. Their ball drop at Coachella in 2011 is prob in my top 10 concert moments. That all being said, this is probably the first time I've listened to one of their albums since the reports against Win were made public a few years ago.
Still such a good listen. Forgot how much Intervention, No Car Go, and My Body Is A Cage forged a lot of my taste out of school.
Wel mooi, niet echt pakkend
This album is a vibe. I enjoyed it, and didnt realize when it ended because Tidal foubd music that perfectly matched the vibe and I was in the zone. I am probably not giving this album its due justice because I listened to while working Musically very interesting with similar themes throughout, but varied enough to catch the change between songs. The transitions were smooth and unobtrusive. Overall a very good listen.
I'd like to view this album from a past perspective and a current perspective. In the past, Arcade Fire was one of the few bands that I obsessed over for months on end. I had first heard their debut "Funeral" in September 2019, and soon after, moved over to their sophomore effort "Neon Bible". In those late months of 2019, I had developed a hard infatuation for the string of albums the band had put out between 2004-2013 as well as for front woman Régine Chassange. At the time, Arcade Fire were a year removed from the disappointment of their 5th album "Everything Now" but it felt like the band could rebound with their next record. There was still hope for this band in my eyes. I knew that they could make another album like "Neon Bible". "Neon Bible" was to me, an outstanding work that only stood in the shadow of their phenomenal debut. A lot of these songs were my jam back then with their compositions and lively melodies. I absolutely loved this thing years ago. So at a time where the band still seemed alive after one misstep, I trusted that they could re-channel that energy and make another great album like this one. It is 2025. I am six years removed from my Arcade Fire phase, and despite a promising debut single for their next album WE, the Arcade Fire hype train has greatly declined. What was once one of the most critically beloved indie darlings that rose through the ranks of popularity through their collaborations with Neil Young, David Byrne and David Bowie. Their multiple appearances on Saturday Night Live. Their albums which would make multiple top 10 lists and earn dozens of awards including most infamously when "The Suburbs" beat Eminem, Gaga and Katy Perry for AOTY. A band that was on top of their creative game has now dissolved into something that feels forced. The allegations against Win Butler didn't help either and it lost them a lot of popularity amongst fans and critics. With the release of "Pink Elephant" earlier this month, I look to Arcade Fire now and realize that they will never reach that peak that they had during this or Funeral or The Suburbs. When I was given this album today, I knew that I would like it a lot. This album already wins in nostalgia points, but I write this as a reflection to what this band used to mean to me. When I hear such great tracks such as "Black Mirror", "Intervention", "Ocean Of Noise"and "Antichrist Television Blues", I wonder how and why this band went to shit. It's really a shame to be honest. I had to hear this album twice just to get a grip on it and that's odd because I know this album. I own it on both vinyl and CD. I know it's great, but perhaps I was searching for some kind of satisfaction again. A satisfaction that I will probably never get from this band again. And yet, this album still lives. (I'm sorry if this didn't make sense) 8/10 (4/5)
Wish I liked it more. Atmospheric, reminiscent of Springsteen in some ways.
It was pretty cool. Unique in some parts.
all a bit meh really. Couple of soaring tracks that lift the whole album… but also show the blandness of the rest.
One of my absolute favourite bands, and one that I want to keep loving, despite the allegations against Win Butler. Arcade Fire played the best concert I have ever seen in my life, on Sept. 30th 2005, and I have logged many miles running to Keep the Car Running. This band rules, no matter what, and I think this is my favourite of all their albums.
This takes me back to the good old days of Triple J. Neon Bible was one of the first full albums I remember properly connecting with along my J's journey and it rocked. Both the Car songs are up there but Intervention is my pick of the bunch. Great music, great memories.
Excellent.
Really entertaining album. There were a few spots that sounded off. Maybe a song or two just didn’t match the vibe of the album as a whole. Deeply melancholic lyrics with little glimpses of hope. Not that it’s a bad thing, just worth noting.
Wonderful indie rock album that's overshadowed (and beaten by a bit) by the albums preceding (Funeral) and following (The Suburbs) The front of the album is good but the best 3 tracks come in the last 4: (Antichrist Television Blues), No Cars Go, and My Body Is a Cage. 9/10
Doesn't quite strike the nervecords that it obviously is going for, but I do enjoy Arcade Fire's general style.
In which Arcade Fire do a phenomenal job at recapturing the grand sound of their previous breakout album, but forget to keep the songwriting at an equally stellar level. There are some undeniably good - if not great - songs, but this album clearly stands in the shadow of its older brother.
Just did not like it, don't enjoy the lead singer's voice, and didn't enjoy many of the songs.
Not the most cohesive of their first three but a bunch of good, slightly darker, songs.
This is pretty great. Not quite as great as funeral, they are consistently good though as a band. Problem is... we know win butler was a knob head, so it somewhat overshadows me listening to them now. I dunno, a huge amount of artists have the same things. Can't people just not be horrible so I can listen to their music without guilty intrusive thoughts about whether I should even give them the time of day. It's infuriating and selfish. Idiots.
Sigh. I can only echo the despondency others have expressed about how (ahem) ‘recent developments’ have permanently tainted their enjoyment of my favourite band - hence I’m listening to this for the first time in a few years. I haven’t come across an artist whose first 3 (or even 4…?) albums match the quality of Arcade Fire’s. I rank Neon Bible a notch below Funeral and The Suburbs at 4.5, and was planning to round down my score accordingly. But hell, listening back to the high water marks around the start and end of the album I’m not sure what more I could realistically ask for from an LP.
keep the car running and my body is a cage strike a chord - a very easy listen.
A modern classic that will likely be tainted by its leader being a dick. But goddamn what an album
1. Black Mirror: lots of paranoia, the overall feeling of being watched. The takeover of screens and the dependence on them is going to take over completely. Nobody can run away from it; the mirrors are everywhere and increasing as this was released in '07. This relates directly to the mass surveillance in the US, along with the rise of fascism and AI. This being the start, it paints a heavy and moody album ahead with outward dark themes. 2. Keep the Car Running: the Orwellian influence is so apparent, I think it was inspired by Why I Write and 1984, themes of dystopia and the political culture. The idea of patriotism and intelligence, the balance or everything crumbles. Thus far, I am not super into the drums and guitar here - it is very folk-indie, and it doesn't quite match. Like the ukulele here? Not sure. 3. Neon Bible: dealing with religion and culture, again inspired by a book - A Confederacy of Dunces. I do enjoy the critical view of holiness in the greed and corruption of politics/general culture. I don't love this track. Honestly, this album is giving "I'm so much morally better than you, and you should listen to my wisdom after I read some books that made me think." I don't know if that's justified, but that's how I feel. 4. Intervention: talking about the War on Terrorism and criticizing the politicians for lying and continuing to push everyone else down. The haunting patriotism and the chimes, consistent beating drums feel like an army instrumental. "Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home." The trauma that soldiers face when they come back, the inability to reintegrate into society. For what? For their life to fall apart under the name of "God"? "Been working for the Church while your life falls apart" -- all of this disaster and tragedies under the name of the State, which claims to be serving God. 5. Black Wave/Bad Vibrations: a reference to "Good Vibrations" about creating a new self and future. "Ce sera un long voyage sur les vagues de l'oubli." When Win Butler comes in, it kinda destroys what was built in the beginning. Also, talking about eating in the ghetto with an expensive plate... didn't land with me. I get the sentiment, but it could've been worded differently IMO. I like the outro a lot. Buildup is great on this song. 6. Ocean of Noise: this song is hitting another symbol apparent in this album of the ocean as a lack of control in life. The noise here is consumerism and propaganda. Especially nowadays, people get lost in their tailored feeds and fake news. They are lost in the noise of the internet, and we opened Pandora's Box, especially with AI. I am haunted by how closely this ties to how I feel about the state of the world currently. The piano is super heavy and sonically consequential feeling. The end feels like accepting the chaos of life and the massive ocean that we all exist in. "Time to work it out," along with strings/horns that feel more upbeat and light. Optimistic ending. 7. The Well and the Lighthouse: about a person who made decisions leading to ruin, following malice because of their poor decisions. I'm not sure what this track is doing on this album? "You always fall for what you desire or what you fear" is an interesting lyric here before the switch-up of rhythm/melody. The strings are so beautiful in this switch-up. I'm confused about this one and the message behind it, maybe I'm missing something... 8. [Antichrist Television Blues]: this song is inspired by Joe Simpson using his daughter Jessica Simpson, increasingly worse abuse. Super creepy reality of her horrible trauma with her father. Sacrificing his daughter and her well-being for fame and fortune under the guise of the Lord. The reference to the mockingbird lullaby is so gross, and fits how her father justified his actions. There are heavy biblical references, I am not well-versed enough to point them all out. The end is abrupt as fuck. 9. Windowsill: carrying potential pain from living with the singer's father, metaphorical or not, it could also be about the beliefs that the family held. "I don't wanna fight in a holy war"; "I don't wanna live in America anymore" - the way this is still the feeling almost 20 years later. The impact of TV and media, along with consumerism and propaganda, takes away his view from his windowsill (the way he perceives the world?). The message on this song captures exactly how I've been feeling about the world, anticipating another world war, and the incessant ads/propaganda fed to us. 10. No Cars Go: very big shift in energy from the last one. This is upbeat and joyous, I love the drums and guitar riff on this. I think the "heys" could've been left out, kinda reminds me of the Lumineers lol. I do enjoy the lyrics about knowing a place where you can truly escape the corruption and terrors of the world today. I'm wondering if that place is sleep, a place where the luxuries of civilization are obsolete. Lyrics are so basic and kinda don't have much substance in my opinion. I agree with a comment on Genius that a 12-year-old could've written these lyrics... This song dragged on for way too fucking long. I was cringing the last few minutes, I had a hard time sitting through it. 11. My Body is a Cage: drum beat reminds me of a pulse, pipes are haunting, and that organ is too. This song delves into the mental struggles of anxiety and the mind holding one back from their potential/what would make them happy. I think I've heard this one in Euphoria, and it was such a heavy song that fit well. This song is relatable as someone with extreme mental health issues. I feel like the music builds to an anxiety attack or total shutdown. I don't feel strongly about this album. I get what they were going for, but it just gives a false higher morality vibe, and that contradicts all the messages in the song. It doesn't flow through super well, and I just think it's alright. I would not listen again. He just kinda cringes me out, icky vibes from him. Turns out he's a creep!
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 : ★★★★☆ Overall : ★★★☆☆
Listening to this again it seems like Neon Bible was like blueprints for Suburbs. There are a lot of similarities in the album structure, arrangements, and overall vibe. Which is pretty cool to see considering Suburbs won a Grammy. Goes to show how dialed in they got. I really love Arcade Fire. Neon Bible seems to be that rare occurrence where the sophomore effort is a proper evolutionary step, growth, not just in wherewithal but in leverage and potency. How they're able to use their instruments and ideas. Seems like any young group can bring energy and flavor, but the greats can continue to shape and refine and realize a bigger vision. I don't think Neon Bible is in and of itself a great album per se, but I love it as a big milestone for the band, and it's just so fun to watch and enjoy their process.
Unfortunately disappointing. I have loved Intervention and My Body is a Cage for many years, but now I get why those are the only two I knew. Not a lot of other gems on this album.
Este es el disco que más me gusta de Arcade Fire, en otros tienen canciones mejores, pero este es el que me ganó. Tengo en favoritos: Black mirror, Neon bible y No cars go. Después de escucharlo he añadido Keep the car running, Intervention y The well and the lighthouse.
Really well written record. Didn't really get into it until the back half to be honst. B side absolutely rocks though. Didn't know much about Butler aside from being an avid NBA fan - 5 misconduct allegations? Yikes. Good listening record though
Interesting, unique orchestrations. Not what I expected at all. I need to listen to more of their work. Nice surprise.
Really unique album :)
Enjoyable.
there is some really good stuff and some meh stuff.
Pretty nice, very Coldplay like but in a concept way!
i’ve been listening to everything now by arcade fire for years now and i only recently realized that people hate that album. i kept reading reviews talking about how it was such a step down from their previous albums and i didn’t really get it because it’s such a solid album. i get it now!
MEh
That's not my taste in music - But ok
It's ok. Not their best but ok
Yeah it was ok but one to hear before you die? I don’t think so! I’ve never really got into them to be honest, a friend bought me an album of theirs for my birthday 20 years or so ago and I’ve listened to it twice maybe.
Just ok
6/10 neupecatljiv mozda ponovo poslusam jednom
Cool sound, interesting reading how album was made.
Looove these churchy keys. Wanna listen more!
Mm ok don’t love
Ok... marginally better than the previous Arcade Fire album (which made me genuinely angry) but certainly not good. Just total millennial indie slop. Some parts made me laugh so that has to count for something.
Following their acclaimed debut Funeral, Arcade Fire faced the "difficult second album" challenge with Neon Bible. While Funeral carved out their space in the indie scene, Neon Bible takes a darker, more grandiose turn—though not always to great effect. After two to three full listens, my impression remains mostly unchanged. The album has strong highlights, particularly “Intervention” and “Keep the Car Running,” which showcase the band’s signature urgency and orchestral depth. “Black Mirror” also stands out with its brooding atmosphere and sharp production. However, not everything lands. The title track “Neon Bible” feels underwhelming and flat, easily the weakest moment on the record. There are sections of the album that drift into a kind of stylized gloom that feels more hollow than haunting. Favorite Tracks: “Black Mirror,” “Keep the Car Running,” and the anthemic “Intervention.” Least Favorite: “Neon Bible” – a forgettable and oddly lifeless entry. Album Artwork: As always, Arcade Fire nails the visual aesthetic. The artwork for Neon Bible is striking and memorable—one of their best.
Fun
It wasn't that bad, but it was pretty generic. Nothing special.
From wiki: "released around the same time as other droll shit that sounds the same during a horrible time in popular music."
Interesting album, though its predecessor and successor albums are way greater.
The title track is 2 minutes, and when it got to the 1 minute mark I wanted to skip it. Pretty much how I felt about the whole album.
I dislike Arcade Fire, both for their music and their attitude towards others. From my memory, they act entitled when on tour and treat others very poorly. Again though, this is from memory and I'm pretty sure it was Arcade Fire that everyone was complaining about. Regardless of that fact, I don't really like their music. I don't hate it, I just don't find it enjoyable either.
Not my favorite Arcade Fire album but it was nice to hear.
Was ok. Great organ.
Oh wow, I'm sure i couldn't die without listening to *generic album* by *generic band*. It sure sounds different than the rest of the bands doing the exact same thing
I've already heard this album before bruh
Feels so grand but also small. Vocals are a little croonerey in a good way. Very good and I will be spending more time with it.
- boring -
I love it
This time I am not going to mess with Arcade Fire. The first album I reviewed was probably the first time I had heard of them. AFTER that I started to really listen and they are really really a favorite of mine since. Now, to be fair and balanced: I still find that a "whole" album in a row has a tendency to feel a bit redundant. This is the kind of music you need to pay attention to and it gets hard to do for a full album's timeframe. Nevertheless, taken in smaller doses or maybe seeing them live, etc, I think that Arcade Fire is severely underrated and are an awesome band all around.
Dictionary definition difficult second album. Not as immediate as Funeral, not as good either but it's an interesting listen and has some great songs.
сервис готовит меня к снлу. этот альбом меньше запомнился/пришёлся чем тот что сервис раньше ставил. в целом аркейд фаер норм, но не лучшая группа для меня
It felt a little overproduced on the first listen, but the second time around I got that it was part of the theme. The overwhelming power and grandiose posturing of the church. It was a powerful listen and a heavy critique on overreach. It felt a little distracted at points and a little heavy handed at others, but I'm willing to admit that I might have missed some of the nuance and subtler rejoinders (also I don't speak french).
Am…am I an Arcade Fire fan…?
Mittel gut, 3 Sterne
I loved Funeral back in the day but somehow never dove deep into this. Funeral has higher highs, but this album feels more consistent. Enjoyed it a lot.
My opinion on the album flip-flopped a lot throughout. It felt like music I’ve heard before for the most part, but that’s probably because of how en vogue this type of music has been in recent decades. Nothing groundbreaking for me, but a couple of songs that I will gladly return to. A 3.5, but I might round it up to a 4 thanks to the fact that I wasn’t expecting too much from it. If I end up giving it a 3, that’s likely because it’s not a new, unique, or original sound to me. Okay, yeah. Even up til the last song my mind has been back and forth. There were a few really good songs!! Those were about halfway through the album. This last song already is dragging a bit, though, mostly because I feel like the singer’s voice doesn’t add very much to it. It also gives off debate meet vibes for some reason hahahha. Also the organs aren’t really for me. Maybe I’ll end up giving this album a 3—with the nuance that a handful of songs from it are solid 4 or 5 star songs!!
It's like listening to paint dry
Meh
Overall, I’d give this a 3 or maybe 3.5 /5. Decent first listening and maybe this album would grow on me with future listens. I’m a fan of this kind of indie music and I didn’t dislike any of the songs on this album. Favorite song was either (Anarchist Television Blues) or No Cars Go. 3 / 5 final rating
Lots of quality songs, some felt like just fillers 3/5
More organ tbh, everything was good but nothing great
Liked this album, very dying small town aesthetic.
Why does a song called “Antichrist Television Blues” have a happy upbeat instrumental with claps on 2 and 4. Not as lyrically interesting as it wants to be and mostly incoherent with a handful of interesting moments 4/10
Not my taste
Some good songs but boring for a lot of it
Black mirror was a waste of time. I think I’m already getting something from this experience tho. I think I can safely say that I prefer instrumentally driven tracks. I had a hunch but this song “keep the car running” I think may have confirmed it. I didn’t mind the vocals per se but they didn’t make me feel anything. The instruments were fantastic and creative, and what I would have traded for an instrumental section instead of another sung verse. Would have been amazing. Violins are gorgeous, so why let it play second fiddle in neon Bible? Pun very well intended. “Black waves/bad vibrations” was quite good. Twists and turns that kept me hooked. “The well and the lighthouse” to “the windowsill” were painfully boring. No cars go wasn’t an all-time favorite BUT after a point it gave the spotlight to its various instrument choices which was incredibly gratifying and it had a payoff even I felt. Shoulda ended the album honestly. The final track honestly felt like a less successful attempt at that.
Already had two of these on my liked songs, cos Black Mirror and Black Wave / Bad Vibrations are bangers. I've seen a fair few of the public reviews saying they're pretentious. I don't care. Did I like the songs or nah? I did. So. Delicate, layered, but they've got a fantastic energy and voice. Plus, there's some French. Could listen to Black Mirror on repeat, honestly. Great stuff.
Wasnt expecting it to be so good
2/10
GOOD!!
3.6 to be listen un the near future
This album was so unenjoyable that it caused me to temporarily abandon this project after over a year of consistent listening. I always try to listen through the whole album, but I just have to give this one star and move on
So much more relevant in 2025 than it was in 2007. I got kind of emotional listening to this again. I don’t want to live with my father’s debt You can’t forgive what you can’t forget I don’t want to live in my father’s house no more I don’t want to fight in a holy war I don’t want the salesmen knocking at my door I don’t want to live in America no more
4.2
Too indie for me. No thanks.
I know that a lot of people are huge fans of Arcade Fire, but I never really spent any time listening to them. After listening to this, I don't know why the fan base is so fervent. This album is DULL. It's not bad, but it's worse than forgettable. The songs are just... there. Not a single one stood out, and I got two songs in, looked at how long the album was, and was relieved that it was relatively short. But still, even it being a 37ish minute album felt too long. I wouldn't reach to turn it off and I wouldn't be mad if I heard it again, but it would definitely bore me again a second time.
3.4 stars rounded down.
Didn’t hit for me
Not my cup of tea
Sem graça, existem depressões melhores.
yet another indie sample here. interesting blend of indie rock, gospel and maybe some classic rock and roll? it's one of those indie albums that feel depressing and hopeful at the same time. religious themes, existentialism and fear are common topics in this album. it's something else when you feel relaxed, then all of a sudden the haunting sounds of the church's organ and wails from the choir fill your eardrums. i don't know why i can't get into a lot of indie fully, but it has a very nicely crafted sound. i love albums that perfectly express cloudy conflicting thoughts like these. one of the tracks has horrifyingly aged well.
Oh my early 2010s how I miss thee! This is one of the greatest from them ! I live arcade fire one of the best bands from that era great alt rock revival! Them and the decembrists and 1901, and kings of Leon just so many good bands of that era and to have such a great album stick out it is good 😊
Have heard "Keep the car running" before and listened to it during an Indie period. Personally i enjoy Arcade Fire. Their chord progressions and instrumentation gives a Epic and Ethereal feel but keeping it in the vain of folky Indie rock. The singers voice can be a bit whiny but for me it works and is not a big issue, but i get that people might not enjoy it. Fun listen, not really a masterpiece but well written.
Just an amazing album; indie/art rock vocals combine with lush multi-instrumentals (I love an organ) and propulsive drumming and guitar work that keeps songs feeling urgent and in no way navel-gazing. Has a lot of songs I enjoy singing along with. I thought about giving 4 stars since there are a couple Arcade Fire albums I like more, but this is good stuff, 5 stars.
That's 3 Arcade Fire albums now, and that's 3x 5 Star ratings. This is my favourite album from them so it was always gonna rate highly. I think My Body is a Cage is their best song along with Sprawl 2. But Honestly I don't think there is a bad song here. Antichrist Television Blues is so underrated. That organ on Intervention is orgasmic.
Wasn’t horrible but I didn’t care for this. 2.5/5
Wasn’t great. 2.5
awesome stuff, Arcade Fire has been a blind spot for me for years and i think they might be a new favorite
Refreshing take on a punk and rock sound from a band totally new to me. The album is enjoyable and still relevant today in its message, though it did wane in charm in the back half. 3 star.
A few decent songs that I already knew I “liked” but the album in general is just boring. Did not enjoy…but they’re ok as a band
the umpteenth time I just realize and admit that I do not like arcade fire...
It's expansive! With a cinematic quality throughout. I don't know how I missed this band. This is my first time listening.
I have liked but never loved Arcade Fire and this album is no different. Some high moments. No particularly bad moments. I just feel held at bay. Oh AF - it's me, it's not you. I'd be happy to spend some time with you but now I need some space.
This is not a bad album, it was alright having it in the background, nothing too exciting though.
'Mirror, mirror on the wall / Show me where them bombs will fall.' Unlike a bomb, this record takes its time to hit, tho the drums are powerful, strings provide orchestral bigness, and Win Butler's voice generously reaches out to the listener. Things finally explode on 'Intervention,' w/ this immediate and prescient indignation: 'Been working for the church while your life falls apart / They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart.' I admire so much Arcade Fire's refusal to let up while at the same time going all out in the beauty department: eruptions fly w/ tranquil eloquence. '(Antichrist Television Blues)' is an awesome echo of Bruce, and while I wish the lyrics were more cogent/coherent thruout, the album is an undeniable success.
Great, moody record
Outstanding Loved this album
Great music
Not the best AF album, but get top 3x. Best song Intervention. Love the organ
Solid follow up to their great debut album. One of my favorite bands of all time!
It was cool.. not what I expected. It works as a full album.
Solid, cohesive album. Became a huge fan of ‘Funeral’, Neon Bible’s predecessor but for some reason never fully listened to this album till now. Need a couple more listens but think I’ll be a huge fan in the future …
A lot of fun listening to this one. I thought I had heard more songs on it but most of this was new to me.
I genuinely loved this one, it was very well written and amazingly produced. The albums cohesiveness and concepts all produced a beautiful grandiose piece of art, which I will definitely have in my rotation for the rest of my life. I’ll be checking out the rest of the albums from these guys because they clearly have some talent. Favorite Tracks: All of them tbh.
Kieltämättä pidän uruista, niitä on käytetty tyylikkäästi tässä. Vika biisi on paras, kokoaa albumin joka mun mielestä uhkaa välillä vähän unohtua haahuilemaan. Hyvät ainekset, kelpo paketti - Arcade fire kuulostaa tässä vielä tuoreelta.
Ei voi mitään, bändin (tai kuka nyt onkaan vastuussa) sävellystyö tekee vaikutuksen. Levyllä on vähemmän massaa kuin The Suburbsilla, minkä takia sen teho on yllättäen pienempi. Mutta esim. Intervention saa minut hyväksymään indieilyn - ja jopa ymmärtämään sitä taiteellisena ratkaisuna - mikä tuntuu pieneltä ihmeltään. 3,5
exciting to listen to after hearing Funeral, this is an ELO-meets-springsteen adventure that never stops sounding full and sweet maybe not as much stand-outs for me to latch onto as Funeral but it was a good listen
For any reasons I had higher expectations on this album?! But it turned out for me that it's just solid. Weak three stars for the Neon Bible. favourite: "Intervention", "No Cars Go" 2,5
Based on some recent albums this might be a 8/5. Realistically its a 4.
Mostly surprised that there have been 2 Arcade Fire records in the first 100 or so albums from the list. I do like these songs, but it's hard to believe this band accounts for 2% of the all time greats.
Its a good album same style and a few good songs. Well produced but nothing that stood out like amazing or anything like that. Just good music all around
Normally, if I said something could be 'excessive,' I'd probably refer to said matter, unfavorably. But with Arcade Fire, overabundance equals beautiful disorder.
Mediocre hipster bullshit
A classic that gets forgotten between the suburbs and funeral
Idk what rock I was under when Arcade Fire was at their peak but I could see myself being insufferably annoying about it had I caught the wave at that time
Felt like Arcade Fire meets Bruce Springsteen, I liked it
Carly had the observation that this sounds like arcade fire doing Bruce Springsteen and I concur. Fine enough to listen to but wouldn’t seek out
Indie rock isn’t quite my thing. This is an okay listen, though.
I've never heard Arcade Fire before but I've heard their name thrown around some indie rock circles. Not sure what to expect with this one. I love the name and look of the album in general. First track that I've felt strongly about is "Intervention", it's a really soaring orchestral kind of song that has a really "big" feel behind it production-wise. The lyrics strike me as an anti-religious anthem, which I'm always a sucker for. Very impressive track! This album has a lot of really cool piano-work in it, I've found myself tapping my foot multiple times just listening along with the beat. I've also really enjoyed a lot of the lyrics on this album so far, in the songs "(Antichrist Television Blues)" and "Windowsill" I've found some gems. One song being about monetizing your children for fortune and fame and despite the loss of innocence that happens in the process. The other being a protest song about America. Overall, I think the lyrics of this album were my favorite part but a majority of the album did feel like it was blending into the background a little bit. I think I'm curious enough to return to this one though - I think there are absolutely some gems in there. Standouts on this one are "Intervention", "(Antichrist Television Blues)", and "Windowsill".
Beautiful and balanced. Full of strong emtions and even heartbreaking sometimes. The sounds really give off neon and holy vibes.
Montreal's very own Arcade Fire was a largely important band to me when I was younger - I thought they were the most profound thing ever. And while I still revisit 'Funeral' from time to time, I still maintain that it's one of the best indie-rock albums of the 2000s, all of their other music has wholly left my rotation, say, for a few songs (like Sprawl 2). And, with this album, I just remember it being much better. Like wow, way to drain out every ounce of life, emotion, and jovial energy that made their debut so fantastic. The production sounds so static and lacks the spontaneous energy of 'Funeral'. There's a fine layer of polish on everything, yet it manages to sound worse. Maybe the worst offender is the final minutes of the closer 'My Body of the Cage', where that organ crescendo and those overblow drums sound just horrid. The production in general doesn't complement Win's generally very clunky singing style, especially on songs like 'Black Mirror'. It's not all bad, though. The run of songs in the middle up to 'The Well and the Lighthouse', while still containing all the production gripes I have with the album, was still really enjoyable. I especially loved the two-parter 'Black Wave/Bad Vibrations', a song that really embraces the album's clearly darker direction. I think it's starting to sound like I despise this album, and I don't really. I think the monotonous angst in the lyrics of their debut are seen here; they're interesting, to say the least. And the songs, at their core, are decent. It's just such a messy album, with production sounds that are questionable at best and grating at worst.
Muziek voor in de namiddag op een festivalweide
Better than I remembered, but still mostly runs together and is not particularly memorable. The singer kind of annoys me at times, but otherwise the instrumentation is pretty good. The first track is my favorite.
Kind of a 50s/Springsteen vibe. Which means it is very cool in my book. Wonderfully dramatic, almost Wagnerian. It may not be on the top of my listening list now, but I predict it will be. 4/5
Fine
I can’t remember anything about this album ten minutes after playing it. Ancestor of Imagine Dragons, I suppose. That one song about driving a car or something is okay.
Of course I knew this one. I think I bought it the day it came out. Still a great album. So much emotion and feeling in it. Allegations aside, holds up for me
Fine
man I never got into Arcade Fire when all my friends did, listening to them just seems like work. Its that indie rock that has a very downcast feel to it, tries to be grandiose here and there, but to hell with your mainstream appeal, normies. Its okay, nothing really stood out, way too much keyboard for me too.
Serviceable indie rock. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Just consumed it and forgot it
Good, not great. Not the best by arcade fire Best song - black mirror
Decent.
These early Arcade Fire albums are fantastic. On some listens these days it feels like a truly great album, on others an excellent one with moments of greatness. Either way, 5 stars.
Capitalism and Religion. Classic 2nd album material. I wanted to rate this low, because I love Arcade Fire and the previous and subsequent albums are way better. But it is better than I remembered. My Body is a Cage is one of the best songs ever. 8.3/10
Fucking hipsters
Good!
Arcade Fire’s first three albums create a bleak and desolate world. I love it. My favorites are No Cars Go, Keep the Car Running and My Body Is a Cage.
Sounds like the Vampire Opera from Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
What a master piece.
Interesting listen 👂 Polymath
When your first album is as good as Funeral, even an album of diminishing returns is still going to be pretty good.
Neon Bible is Arcade Fire preparing for The Suburbs before they or us knew any better. From its expanding cinematic scope and baroque synth textures to its sharper songwriting and critique of modern life, Neon Bible lays the groundwork. It's a fine record but it won't be their best, their best is yet to come.
ive been meaning to get into arcade fire for YEARS this is fun!! kind of muse-y if i had to compare them to a band im more familiar with. fave is the well and the lighthouse
Bunch of bops. Feels like they were creating the soundscape they’d (re)use across most of the Suburbs. Fun album.
“Funeral” was game changing, but this is still fun.
a modern classic
Like The Suburbs a bit more but really solid overall
Introductions are never easy with Arcade Fire—some artists will always demand undivided attention across multiple playbacks. But do I ever love Antichrist… ✅✅ Ocean of Noise ✅✅✅✅ (Antichrist Television Blues) ✅ No Cars Go
I kept replaying this album on Friday and throughout the weekend. There was something about it that made me want to go back and figure out what made it linger in my head. I found the whole album musically interesting and felt like the music itself - the cords, the arcs, the choruses - told a story of tension and breaking through, more so than the lyrics.
Set aside all the orchestration and you have some great songwriting. A lot of these would work with just an acoustic guitar.
Keep the Car Running is so good
big time college album for me. with some distance, realize it's a little uneven - the lows are almost parodies of themselves, not sure if this is because of time and a bigger catalogue or if they were reductive to begin with. that said, songs like windowsill, keep the car running, no cars go - bangers.
Ok
Good album but I prefer the suburbs to this one
Did I decide how I felt about this before it started? Yes. Did it end up being exactly what I thought it would be? Yes. This is my second Arcade Fire album now, and I listened to Funeral by choice (unfortunately). This band birthed the millennial folk-pop of the 2000s-2010s that we now look back on shame, but about 40% more pretentious. Arcade Fire wants to be Tom Waits, Bowie, New Order, and The Cure, but never quite gets the easy, almost effortless execution those artists have/had. Everything about this feels forced, like the guy with an acoustic guitar at a party. With that said, let's talk highlights - the production is good, the first two songs are far better than the rest, the performances are fine. I see the allure that this band has for people, it's just not my thing. 6/10
🙈
As someone who thought Funeral was okay, this was a nice improvement. It’s still aggressively indie, but it didn’t feel as insufferable as Funeral. I think it might be because of the slightly sinister vibes from the organs and the orchestra. It’s less a “outside with backyard lights” feel and more “dark gothic church”. Weirdly, it sounds like a indie Bruce Springsteen. Overall, this is a good step forward for Arcade Fire after not being very impressed with their first effort. Favorite track: No Cars Go Other hits: Intervention, Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, Black Wave/Bad Vibrations
This is a very good album with excellent songwriting and production. It's not my personal taste and it's not an album I would want to listen to very often since there's a lot of emotional heaviness to the songs themselves, but that doesn't mean it's bad by any means.
Very good
Was a pretty enjoyable album - loved some of the sounds in it Standouts: keep the car running, intervention, no cars go
Surprisingly good, very solid indie album
It was enjoyable but all of the songs sounded the same - I was expecting more from Arcade Fire.
Каждая песня на альбоме как саундтрек к фильму
Solid
nice
I quite enjoyed this ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Understand why people like this, but doesn't do it for me - perhaps a little too demonstrative, heart-on-sleeve indie?
A great album
Keep the Car Running is one of my all time favorite songs.