Reviews (page 9 of 13)
Another Album for the elevator.
Good album. I know they were media darlings but I am so so with this band. They have some amazing songs but they get tiresome after a while.
The Suburbs is just better!
Mah”
Not my favorite, but still enjoyed a few songs. My favorites were "Black Wave/Bad Vibrations" and "My Body is a Cage".
They have their distinct sound and it's well crafted but it lacks a certain heart 3.5*
2.8
Pretty unexceptional and nothing very memorable but it was an OK listen. Leans closer to a 3 than a 2. 2.5/5
Not an indie fan but rather enjoyable considering I'm generally unfamiliar with AF.
It was ok, there were some good songs but it all started to sound the same.
Nick Cave or Neil Diamond?
there is a strange, unnameable, effervescent quality to arcade fire’s music that is tuned to a frequency that evokes the sensation of “Big Feelings”—a distinctly adolescent desperation, an earnest grandiosity of emotion. there’s something about butler’s delivery which somehow sounds hushed even at full volume, how each song slowly builds into this great triumphant climax of chimes and horns and big guitars, like running down a hill and getting faster and faster not consciously but simply due to momentum and gravity. this visceral reaction can trick a person into thinking the music is actually good…BUT DON’T BE FOOLED! it’s not actually that good. it’s a little bit saccharine, a little bit samey, a little bit sincere but not quite enough for me to buy it now as an adult. it’s nothing extraordinary—still, i can’t deny the way it makes my heart twinge slightly. fav tracks: keep the car running; (antichrist television blues)
I’ve enjoyed the Arcade Fire albums we’ve listened to so far. I never thought much about them until now and I do see the appeal and think their music is interesting. I just think a lot of it blends together for me but maybe that would change if I relistened. There were a few songs on here that I thought were exceptionally beautiful but other than that it was mainly just pretty, consistent-sounding background music. *Fav tracks: Ocean of Noise, My Body Is A Cage*
I am an old millenial but I do not get what is soooo amazing about this band or album. They gave me pretentious douche bag vibes from the start (turns out I was right!). As for the album, its not bad...its even somewhat enjoyable, but its nothing special or new or inventive. Black Mirror gave me total Elvis vibes and Intervention sounded like it came straight off a Bruce Springsteen album Would I listen to the album again, sure and I did enjoy some of them but it sounded like a lot of indie millenial alt rock of the time.
I like this band but I've never sunk my ears into a full album. They have several hits that I like. Overall I thought it was a pretty good album but didn't super win me in a "this is what I've been missing all my life" kind of way. I liked: Keep the Car Running, Intervention, AntiChrist Television Blues. I'm about a 3.5 with this album. Could probably get to a 4 with it with a few more listens but maybe they have better albums than this one?
I’ve always viewed Arcade Fire as THE cool band for Millennials…the band that all of the art students were in love with during their prime. My time was during grunge, so listening to this makes me feel like I’m missing out on something. My idea of cool, artsy music is Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, and R.E.M. I do like Arcade Fire. They made one of the most perfect, instant classic songs in the form of “The Sprawl II” from The Suburbs. And yet there are elements of unresolved anxiety and claustrophobia throughout their catalog that keeps me from loving them. Maybe it’s the too tight drums, or the slightly off kilter songwriting, or Winn Butler’s too urgent voice. Maybe that is all their point. Nevertheless, there are a lot of good songs on Neon Bible. Just nothing life altering for me. I would still take The Suburbs over this album.
Never heard the album before. This album is just fine, but I wasn't moved by it and probably won't listen to it again.
It was ok but nothing incredible.
Pretty good but not great.
I believe that the instruments didn't do many interesting things and I didn't really like the guy's voice. However there were some pretty good songs on the album.
Not convinced that this needed to be on the list. Funeral eats Neon Bible's lunch.
Great Modern take on Springsteen. Too bad that one dude sucks.
Very good but not their best by any stretch I don’t think?
This list bought to you by Arcade Fire, for some undiscernible reason.
It’s pretty good. Some songs, like “Neon Bible” and “Intervention” are very grand and exciting. I enjoyed the chemistry and performance of the band, but the songs not as much. I like it but I wouldn’t call it a must-listen, partly because they have at least 2 albums I would say that about.
Hmmm. Liked it although a bit more churchy and biblical than I would have thought from an indie band. (I guess that was a result of the church they purchased and the title of the album.) Also, never considered an indie band with orchestration behind them. Antichrist Television Blues was well crafted. (Not sure why the title is in parentheses.) Neon Bible comes in at (3.5*s)
This is a solid album, I know and like a lot of songs on it, but it's not as strong as their previous entry The Suburbs (which came next in their discog). I've been listening to Arcade Fire since Rebellion (Lies) broke in 2004 and I think they get better as time passes. I dig their sound and go to them over a lot of other indie bands from the 2000's. 3.25 for the husband-wife duo.
Doesn't match the soaring sort of heights that funeral attains occasionally. Tends more toward the insufferable hipster stuff they are accused of, but not too close
Previously rated: The Suburbs (3/5) Funeral (2/5) ********************* The users of this site seem to love them some Arcade Fire. More power to them. I don't get much out of it. The only track I really remember is (Antichrist Television Blues), only because I thought it sounded like Bruce Springsteen song. The album is over-produced for my taste.
A bit Bruce Springsteen
no ion wanna listen to arcade fire one of their better albums. was not expecting to enjoy this.
Not a huge fan of indie rock in general, so Neon Bible didn’t totally land for me. A lot of the songs just blended together and felt like the kind of generic indie rock that never really grabs me. That said, there were a couple of standouts. “Intervention” was a solid ballad — emotional, well-written, and probably the most memorable track for me. But “Ocean of Noise” was the one I actually really enjoyed. Great vibe, moody in the right way, and definitely a cut above the rest.
beeeeem sem sal mas não é ruim não
ruim num é. mas sinto que falta algo nesse album aqui, sei lá. é sólido, mas poderia ser mais barulhento, num sei. ficou faltando um temperinho. no mais, no cars go é pedrada viu.
I tried here as well. I really did, honestly. You gotta understand the thought I was going into this album with: "I thought Arcade Fire only had one — sorry, **two** albums." Legitimately, before this popped up, I'd completely forgotten this band existed outside of THE SUBURBS and, like, FUNERAL, and even that second one took me a moment to recall. 'Coz they've really never meant much to my life other than "one of their albums was widely named Album Of The Year, and that's a random fact I have stored away." I'd know their name if I saw them, but I couldn't tell you what they sounded like, and I was never particularly compelled to find out. And, heck, even after this Randomizer actually had me listen to THE SUBURBS I still couldn't and wasn't. So, here we go with another one. Their second, actually; the one they released between FUNERAL and THE SUBURBS. And if there's a metaphor I wanna use to describe this album, it's based on one that was used for this album: the ocean. Generally, so says Win, it's used here to represent a "loss of control." And you might think I'd use the ocean as a metaphor for the album's expanse, depth and beauty. But, no, no. See, my mind's stuck on the opener, "Black Mirror", which describes an black ocean on a moonless night. And something about that evokes how I feel about this album where I'm trying, honestly, to focus on the water cresting, but it's so hard to and everything jus' kind of melts into each other. It just ain't the kind of water I enjoy lookin' at, y'know? Like, sure, when I do catch something, it's fine — and when the big, bright boat that is "No Cars Go" passes by, I'm all eyes — but for most of the time I'm spending with it, there's just other bodies of water I'd rather deal with. And maybe that metaphor makes sense or maybe it doesn't, I'unno. I found out during the course of the album that I was more tired than I thought I was, and that's no fault of the album, but it sure didn't help any. Even if I wasn't, though... Yeah, I still don't think I'd think much of it. I'll be generous and give it a 3, 'coz I really did like "No Cars Go" just that much, but otherwise... I still can't tell you what Arcade Fire sounds like and I'm still not particularly interested to find out.
No my jam but the production and music is descent.
First song was the best. It doesn't amount to much for me but is better than a lot of the slop on this tracker. Let's go with 2.5.
Slow and good vibes.
Если грустно, то пойдёт
I really like this, but it seems like an album that needs tons of listens to hang on. I liked the last album we listened to more, so going 3. But, is this a 1001 must?IDK.
Probably deserves another listen, I was a bit distracted while this was playing.
I don't know. They keep giving me Arcade Fire albums, and I keep finding them competent, but not spectacular. Maybe it's me, maybe it's Arcade Fire, but I must ask as I enter the endgame with this list, to respect my wishes and not make me review any more Arcade Fire albums at this time 3/5
Helt OK. Inte så catchy och väldigt indy
I’d probably enjoy it if I listened to it more than once. But one listen didn’t reveal anything special
I reckon bands like Arcade Fire attract an audience who remain loyal. People like me who never really listened to the band and come to the record a while later often miss that audience's experiences. So I played this pretty much unfamiliar with the band and found it a bit dull and average.
Ho hum. Nothing spectacular. Nothing bad. Just an 88 mph fastball down the middle.
good
Similar like Get Well Soon.
I thought the first song was pretty good. Then the next song sounded a lot like the first one and I thought these guys have a pretty distinct sound. Then the rest of the album sounded the same and I reconsidered. All the songs would probably be good on their own, but it was hard to listen to the whole album.
Instantly forgettable, totally non attention grabbing, boring, not much more to say really.
Why do critics have such a hard-on for Arcade Fire when they sound like every other indie rock band of their time?
I have an Arcade album that I like. This is not it. This one dragged.
Slower than id like, but good atmosphere
great but not their best work
It was okay, kinda boring but I do like a few songs. I feel like I need to be in the right mindset for this more calming music
canada is just indie america so this tracks
Whenever I listen to Arcade Fire, I feel like I'm listening to a musical, for better and for worse. Despite the really interesting lyrical themes going on, and the varied instrumentation, there's this sort of box that it seems to stay inside, like the limits of a stage. That sounds uncharitable, and maybe it is. But I think fully embracing the aesthetic, a dash of whimsy, would go a long way. As it stands, it takes itself a bit too seriously. There are some really compelling songs, but they're peppered with Indie™ hallmarks that sometimes make me groan. "No Cars Go" is a case in point: brilliant instrumentation, but there's that goddamn "HEY" that's inescapable. It's still think it's a good song, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't hamper my enjoyment. In Arcade Fire's defence: this came out in 2007, presumably before these conventions became so overused. Alas, I'm listening to this in 2024. The production is... interesting. Undecided on whether I like it or not. Sometimes it sounds full and sparse at the same time. The lyrics are where this album really shines. And I love that organ, that proper church organ. Fav tracks: Intervention, (Antichrist Television Blues), No Cars Go, My Body Is a Cage
It's an ok album, my body is a cage is definitely the best song. I do prefer other arcade fire albums more.
I like arcade fire this one was ok I enjoyed the other albums better
Better than I expected. Reminded me of Echo & the Bunnymen
The musical equivalent of a bowling alley. Bright, a little bit forced, but ultimately an okay day out.
It was alright
This was like a rock opera for hipsters. I didn't hate it, but I doubt I'll revisit this album ever again.
To me this sounds like they're trying too hard to be unusual and avant-garde and they are overreaching big time. The music bed underneath is extremely basic
Never quite saw why they were so lauded.
I really thought that I was going to hate this, but it wasn't bad. It felt long though.
quite depressive
Meh
I'm not exactly sure why this one was celebrated so much by critics. It feels a bit pretentious on a lot of the tracks, and I didn't feel like the music was that fantastic. I mostly preferred the tracks that were a bit orchestral/symphonic and found the rest just fine. I might remember this one more from the cool band/album name, and the cool album art than for its music in the future if I had to guess. The songs are fading from my memory today already. Standouts Intervention Black Wave/Bad Vibrations 3/5
Meh.
Generic pop/rock. Not bad, just boring.
I’m a fan of Funeral, The Suburbs, Reflektor, and even their soundtrack for the movie Her (check it out, amazing film). However, I’ve never listened to Neon Bible, so I was excited to dive in. The first three tracks were forgettable, except for the repetitive “Neon Bible,” which I wish was forgettable. However, Intervention was a nice change of pace that reminded me of arcade fire’s charm, and everything thereafter opened up more. Ocean of Noise ended beautifully. As did The Well and the Lighthouse. And I love the strings, dynamics, and high stakes in No Cars Go. Unfortunately, it has little replay value for me, except for like 3-4 songs.
very good. 3.5
I never noticed before but I get heavy shades of Deacon Blue. A bit less cast of Les Mis on this.
No cars go is definitely my favorite.
Upbeat, festive and lively. Elements of folk, rock, classical all enveloped in this record. It's been some time since I last listened to this but I'm reminded of how good it is and I understand why it's on this list. Unique sound that Arcade Fire brings and it's very pleasant to listen to.
Intervention showcases arcade fire at its best. Big emotional builders that hit ya in the feels. Great stuff. 3.5/5
Perfectly fine.
Wasn't great, wasn't terrible
3/5 Would listen to didn't have a fav song
Took me right back to 2007 but not my hugest vibe—organs and shrill background vocals can sometimes take me out of the moment. Dope lyrics though!
Eh, had some good moments but not enough to justify being on here. Especially since I think we got an album of theirs already.
We've had a couple from Arcade Fire by now, right? Think it's number 3, and it's solid as you'd expect I guess. I think I always gave them a bad rap, and unless I'm misremembering something Win Butler turned out to be a bit of a scumbag, but the music is really solid. "No Cars Go" was the highlight, good album. Favorite tracks: No Cars Go, Keep the Car Running, Intervention, (Antichrist Television Blues). Album art: It really is a neon bible, props for dodging any false advertisement claims. Very cool cover though, possibly my favorite from them. Between this and Reflektor. 3.5/5
Don't really get the hype - arcade fire are just ok
This was a decent album. After listening to three Arcade Fire albums, I’m still not sure why they’re held up with such high praise, but they’re not bad overall. It’s a blend of indie rock, baroque pop, and art rock. The production is dense and atmospheric, with a darker, apocalyptic tone.
Bang average. 3 stars.
This just seemed like a ho hum mediocre album to me. Probably should get a 3 to be right down the middle.
My particular taste. But I can totally see why they are usually important and a lot of people's favorite
Always thought I could get into Arcade Fire but there wasn’t much to grab into here.
3.5/5
I liked the album surprisingly well. I haven't heard any of it yet. It won't be one of my favorites, but maybe I'll listen to it again. 3/5
Prefer The Suburbs.
Vaikea levy päästä kunnolla kiinni. Ei hyvä, ei huono, ei mitään? Kolme kertaa kuuntelin päivän aikana ja jokaisella kerralla edellistä parempi kokemus.
Every time I listen to arcade fire, because it's so praised by the critics, I enjoy it, but it just doesn't blow me away. I like the dark parts of this album. (Antichrist Television Blues), Keep the Car Running and Windowsill are my favorites.
This was a bit of an odd one for me. On first listen it just didn't grab me at all. However with each subsequent listen it got a little better. I still wouldn't call it great, but it's certainly not bad.
Bien, pero no me ha encantado
Your basic Indie-band album.
Wasn’t too bad but just lacked character
It was an inoffensive listen. Might revisit to see if it grows on me.
There are some great songs on this record, but I'm not sure they work well together as an album. Experiencing the album as a whole gives a disjointed feeling between the songs, even though the sound and content of the songs are very good. I will leave 3 stars today.
Spent some time listening to this one. It is definitely an album of substance. You have to love a song with pipe organ! Each song sounds so different from the next. Antichrist Television Blues' lyrics are insightful. Win Butler's voice sounds so much like Bruce Springsteen's on ATB that I spent a lot of time looking for a guest performer credit on the song. There is a haunting feeling listening to The Well and the Lighthouse. It's a really good album, but after a lot of thought, it's not a great album in my opinion.
This sounded good but they are not my type of band.
Arcade Fire always seems on the edge of being appealing to me, but they are just a bit too blase and boring, when it really comes down to it. It feels like they are "color by numbers" in the way they do many things "right" for indie rock but also don't seem to stand out or take enough risks or are edgy enough in any ways for m. However, I can't complain about the music, really, and there definitely is some talent in the music and some of the lyrics. I just wish I could really feel at all attached to it or challenged in any way.
Is three stars too high for albums I feel indifferent to? Because I give a lot of albums I feel indifferent to three stars
Once again another ho-hum album on the list. Nothing too exciting or terrible.
another solid "meh" album on this list.
-I’d say I like it. Started off pretty strong and kind of meandered a little toward the end, but it has some very interesting lyrics/themes and instrumentation. The female vocals are awesome and I wish there were more of them -Favorites are Black Mirror, Black Wave / Vibrations, and Ocean of Noise
I wish I liked this more than I do. It’s kind of like a muddy Springsteen.
I listened to it but I don't remember a thing about it
Another Arcade Fire album! This one’s not as great but still decent
ive always thought arcade fire were a bit overrated and this doesnt change that. the compositions arent bad and perhaps for their time they were more interesting but nowadays this is just inferior bcnr. 6/10
whatever 6/10
Chill
A little bit cooler than The Suburbs, i guess. Doesn’t really say much though.
I really enjoyed this but for its notable moments. 6.8/10
Pretty good! Wish I would’ve listened a little bit better to be honest but I liked their sound.
Just average for me.
6.5/10
Hit or miss. Opening track is great. Title track is garbage. The whole album is like this. A tug-of-war between good/interesting and bad/dull.
Genuinely did not like this, not the genre for me.
very good tunes, would like to listen some more, probably 3.5.
meh, po nazwie spodziewałem się czegoś elektronicznego ;-)
Feels like the type of records I almost love but I just just couldn.t get into this one.
- ganz gut gewesen, aber wieder mal nichts wirklich herausgestochen für mich (allerhöchstens die letzten beiden Tracks ein wenig) -
I have a few songs of Arcade Fire on a few compilation albums. But I don't have any of their albums. This one is not bad. For sure I will look into their other albums as well.
Good album sounds similar to the killers
I really like Arcade Fire but this album really didn’t do anything for me. Maybe it hit me on the wrong day.. added the title track to my playlist as no specific song jumped out at me
Arcade Fire kind of feels like it only does one sound but they do build energy and a bit of a grandiose sound fairly well. I often hear them and wonder if there's more going on that I'm not hearing. I enjoyed their later album that Bowie worked on with them but as an earlier career release this isn't bad. From what I hear about their popularity I'm missing something that everyone else is hearing on this one.
The arrangements are spectacular. The lyrical content is interesting. The production didn't feel as dynamic as it could be. I would need more listens. There is a lot going on. Black Wave/Bad Vibrations caught my attention.
Bit disappointing to be honest
College classic. Still feels like every trailer ever had these songs.
Ikke så god som Funeral. Men en ganske god plade.
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
Already very familiar with this album. A great listen
The rocking-est part is offputting. But some of the singing sounded Bowie-esque.
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.
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.
Not my jam
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.
It wasn't bad in fact there were lots of nice touches, but it was lacking a certain something to make it really good.
Some bangers, cant reall understand words without lyrics pullef up
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.
I mean it’s no Funeral. It’s still pretty good though. 3.5
Ikke dårligt, jeg havde forventet noget lidt mere rocket fra dem.
Will Butler Tony’s weekend lessgoo
Det finns något. Behöver fler lyssningar men vi börjar med en trea.
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.
Not bad. It'll always be the follow-up to Funeral.
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.
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.
3.5
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".
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%
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.
This just felt fine. I'd listen to it again but it wasn't that exciting really
It’s alright. No real feelings. Not great, but not bad either.
Pas mal 2.75
J’ai préféré l’autre d’avant, jsuis peut-être juste pas dans l’mood
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.)
Prettty good
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
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.
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.
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.
Estaba bien, tiene sentido xq my body es a cage es el single y la canción más interesante
favs: no cars go, black mirror likes: keep the car running, ocean of noise, the well and the lighthouse
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
sad christian rock
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.
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.
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.
Album was okay, not really memorable
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.
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
This was good, not great. Nothing too memorable, but never unhappy it was on.
I like the last song
Ok
Better than the first one. There were some exciting songs here!
Never a fan and still am not, but I do think they create a fairly creative body of work here.
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
Don't really have much to say about this one
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.
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.
Decent! Sounds like Kings of Leon
Not listened to Arcade Fire before. Pretty good. Different.
First listen in 15 years. Confirms that it's not a bad album, but my least favourite by Arcade Fire.
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.
Could be a grower
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.
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?
Guess you had to be there for this one.
Not as good as the suburbs
eh
I can't think of anything to say about the mass of average albums on this list.
It was interesting to hear, but not an album I would listen to again.
Decent album. Not a bore but also didn’t grip me. Somewhat standard indie rock for the time with sometimes interesting instruments, lyrics, and themes. Has some nice moments like the end of No Cars Go. Good enough of a listen, but also not a standout to me.
Solid album from start to finish. Every song was pretty unique and there wasn't anything I really wanted to skip. There's even some church organs on a couple songs which is wild. 6.75/10 (3.375/5)
Opzich priems, niet bijzonder
Didn't hate it
Kind of a bland album for me. Seemed very repetitive sound to me. I've listened to Arcade Fire song but never go into them and hadn't listened to full albums. I definitely liked the first couple songs and last couple songs the best. Overall a soft 3 stars to me.
Love Arcade Fire's use of choir singing and beat switching in their songs. It gives it a uniquely triumphant sound to their songs. No Cars Go was a standout. Overall not the best Arcade Fire album, and I'm not really sure why we have gotten 3 AF albums so far. Cool album cover though. This one ultimately fell into the background for me. Nothing exceptional, but good indie/alternative tracks.
This album is okay. Some songs have incredible explosions of energy, other songs just kind of pass me by.
Arcade Fire has a Springsteen vibe that is very listenable. It’s not stand-out, but solid background music.
Okay
Singles: -------------------------------------------- Black Mirror Keep the Car Running (UK #56) Intervention No Cars Go (UK #85) 5/5: No Cars Go, Keep the Car Running. 4/5: Black Mirror, Intervention, Neon Bible, Ocean of Noise, Windowsill. Rating: 3.5 / 5
This band was overhyped from day 1 and while they delivered the full goods on first record and offered a decent payoff on the third, quality dropped off quite a bit by this time. No wonder editors dropped them from later editions, as the hype faded, along with memories of their (allegedly legendary) live shows. It's sorta cool and certainly not bad, but there's more than a whiff of trying too hard, taking themselves too seriously.
I had to listen to this twice for this first time to see if I liked it. The second time I got more out of it than the first listen. Maybe a third listen will register more...
This band was brand new to me. Not bad, but it didn’t wow me by any means. The simple instrumental lines that were layered with heavy orchestration, along with the whining vocals, made them sound like a U2 wannabe. I could listen again, but I wouldn’t seek this album out
I hated the “whole band choir” thing when the Lumineers did it and I hate it now too. This has a few decent tracks but it’s not nearly as good as Funerals.
A good album for its time. Very similar to all the other bands doing the same sort of thing around that period though.
I think a pretty weak start for the album tbh. Track 2 is instantly better than track 1. Antichrist television blues was a really enjoyable song. Possibly my favourite on the album. Really picked up towards the end of this album and I really started enjoying it, but not a strong start for me.
Decent post 9-11 indie Rock. Somewhat dismal thematically like a lot of Arcade Fire's stuff is. Nice execution. Some really interesting orchestration and instrumentation to deepen the mood. No Cars Go is a great tune.
Musically it is pretty solid, however I have issues with the mixing. At times it is significantly too quiet and then the next song will nearly blow my speakers out before I can turn the volume back down. The mix also feels too busy on most of the songs, a lot of the instrumentation struggles to differentiate itself unless there is a specific solo moment. I don't think it is a terrible album, it just doesn't hold its own space in the way The Suburbs does.
Their pre-Suburbs album. It’s not bad, but not nearly as good as their follow-up.
Expected to like it better.
This is a solid album. I'm not sure how many Arcade Fire albums should be included on a list of essential listens though; I think you get the idea from their debut (which definitely deserve inclusion on the list) and their third album (which won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2011). With that in mind, is Neon Bible really adding that much to someone's experience? Personally, I like this album more than The Suburbs, so I would recommend it over that album, but for historical context, I think listening to the Album of the Year from 2011 is more edifying. Anyway, still a solid listen and a great album from one of the biggest bands of the 2000-2010s. I try to separate the art from the artist, so I haven't tried to reflect on the allegations of sexual misconduct by Win Butler. Based on the fact that Arcade Fire is still a festival headliner, I think most people haven't considered it either.
Neon Bible maintains the band's signature sound, it falls short of the power and passion found in Funeral, their debut release. The songs on Neon Bible feel more restrained and polished, resulting in an overall less impactful experience. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 3 STAND OUT TRACK - No Cars Go
Most average band on earth
Good, but not the best Arcade Fire I’ve heard.
It's good, but over-rated. I liked it better than Funeral. The suburbs is also on the list, but I haven't heard it yet. Favorite song: black wave.
Competent
Alt-rock with some good moments, but overall nothing special. 3/5
Mehh…
zooey deschanel type beat
Didn't think I liked arcade fire, but this was interesting. Will probably come back to it
Its okay, but not more
Hymnic hit, Rest so so.
Nice production, sometimes a bit repetitive and dull. Very cohesive. Lyrics turn boring towards half of the record but are not bad at all. Not a fan of the vocal delivery but still nice. Wouldn't listen to it again. Might only go back to my fav tracks. Fav tracks: Black Wave/Bad vibrations and My body is a cage. 6.5/10
Sundance 2009 coming of age trailer ass music. I used to be into Arcade Fire, but this album never sat right with me. Criticizing AF for being too grandiose is kind of like saying butter is too fatty, but at several points, this album is beyond what I can stomach. 2.8
First track is good, nice blend of ambient and traditional instrumentation. Very 80's feeling but not cheesy. Keep the Car Running is relatively forgettable. Neon Bible is fine. Intervention has a great blend of organ, the end is hymn like. This is followed up with Black Wave/Bad Vibrations with Regine Chassagne taking the lead vocals for the first half of the song and brings an interesting and different vibe to the tune. The background vocals in the second half I find more intriguing than the main movement. The Well and the Lighthouse seems like the most obvious choice for a single; it's catchy, upbeat, reminds me of a mix between Hey Rosetta and The Killers. Windowsill drags, not bad but not for me. No Cars Go has a great team vocals, the horns are melodic and memorable.
5.5/10 OK I guess, not one I am likely to come back to though Indie/alternative rock music turned into a stadium version by good production and arrangements They should dial down the Springsteen worship a bit Prefer the music to the vocals You don’t need to have 50% of the songs striving to be stadium anthems Best: Intervention
Very 80s inspired
Nicht so schlecht, aber nichts besonderes. Einzelne bessere Songs. 5.0/10
Not an album I'd actively listen to 2.5 stars
3/5 interesting but not enough
6/10 Wasn't for me Kinda felt like inspo for Imagine Dragons
Fine. Nothing stood out to me as particularly great on this album.
Kind of rock, really great evening music or background tunes for journaling. Liked it more than I thought I would.
Good stuff, but apparently this band is full of tools. 3.4.
Thoughts before listening: I was into Arcade Fire's first album and was excited when this one came out. It's okay, but didn't grab me like the first one. I remember only really loving a couple songs, and in general I prefer the Suburbs to this one (Funeral is still their best though). I'm interested to see if I appreciate this more now than I did at the time. Review: Definitely not my favorite but AF, but there are some really good songs on here. AF create a big sound with lots of different instruments and musicians that lend a certain grandiose quality to these songs. This is the sound of 00s indie rock as it ascended the charts and started headlining festivals. When the melodies match the epic musicianship it's very effective, but this album is uneven to me. There are some definite highlights in "Keep the Car Running", "Intervention", "(Antichrist Television Blues)", and "No Cars Go", but overall I still feel this pales in comparison to the albums released before and after. Too many mid tempo songs that just don't click with me even though I do really like the songs above.
Best song-Black Wave/Bad vibrations
Black Mirror itself is a pretty neat track.
Interesting Sound, B Side was good up until No Cars Go where the songs started to get repetitive and same sounding. Solid album tho, 3.5.
nice 00s rocky pop
Nice album that is a bit moody. A lot of the songs sound the same. Good effort. 3
3.5, Intervention gori
ok
It’s a paradox: a solid album that I don’t feel like listening to. Three or four songs in, and I feel like I’m sensing a formula, and not entirely sure the disc isn’t stuck on repeat.
Slower than I thought/remembered. A bit more broody, maybe it was the time?
This album sounded too much like their other albums. Some songs stood out more than others.
I enjoyed the bits with the church organ, even more and it would have been amazing.
It was good, 3 stars
Love the band but this is not their best album in my opinion. Still some great tracks included. Expected Marc rating: 3
Если честно -- слушается тяжело. Вайб прогрока, хотя, конечно, это не он. Но последние два трека дают почувствовать, что эти ребята что-то нащупали в звуке. Там реально офигенный баланс всего. Эдакие Imagine Dragons на минималке В целом 2, но за хиты поставлю 3
Album 255 of 1001 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible Rating : 3 / 5 I expected more.
My body is a cage
Mola. Ha estado cerca de ser un 4 pero al acabarlo me acordaba más de la canción random que me ha puesto Spotify al acabar el disco que de algo del disco, y eso no parece bueno.
Nice, but pretty generic.
It's true that if you listen to enough Arcade Fire, their songs do tend to sound fairly similar, but this album did some novel things with instruments and production (the opening pipe organ on "Intervention" not the least of them). It did take my attention for a time, and I still enjoy some tracks on it, but I feel I grew out of it at some point and find it a bit dramatic for my current outlook on life. But that buildup, crescendo, and emotion put into the arcs of their songs can be infectious at times.
Quite a nostalgic record for me, reminds me of high school. I love the lush production and orchestral nature of it. There some great lyricism too. A great album but nothing too exceptional.
Sadly nowhere near on the level on the albums that surrounded this release. No Cars Go is probably the only track worth banging on repeat. The rest just sounds like the weaker points of Funeral/Suburbs. Not necessarily bad, but not great. 3.5*
Plays a little thin, if pleasingly. There are compelling moments, but they don't last. And it really asks to be taken more seriously than it merits.
This didn't catch my attention, but it sounded like Springsteen when it did.
Flaccid rock.
Meh
It's mid
Quite liked this even though it didn't leave a huge impression on me.
not their best not their worst.. and win has kinda ranked this band for me….
Well... Funeral was great, The Suburbs was naff, this was the album between the two, and Win Butler sounds like a nasty piece of work, so I'm heading in trepidatiously. It was alright. Clearly the career is a downward curve but it had a few great songs. All a bit long winded though.