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2005 was quite the year for Arcade Fire. Armed with their debut album Funeral, they seemingly came from nowhere to be crowned the new kings of indie (who are The Shins again?).
Funeral was hailed the world over, becoming their record labels first album to break into the Billboard Top 200. They also won numerous international awards and were championed by David Bowie, U2 and Coldplay – from a critical and commercial perspective, they had made it.
So with success like that, what do you do for your sophomore album?
Simple. Hold true to the elements that define you - rich textures, driving rhythms, a kitchen sink approach to instrumentation and of course, a flair for the dramatic.
With Neon Bible, Arcade Fire delivers on all counts, the album containing eleven epic musical arrangements.
Surprisingly, the album has been panned in some areas – with comparisons to Funeral less than favourable. I think this misses the point and may reflect some critics reviewing the album too soon. Each song contains such a range of musical ideas that the hook isn’t always obvious, the genius isn’t always clear – but give it a chance and the rewards do come.
First track and lead single, ‘Black Mirror’, is a perfect example of this. With each listen you could be equally drawn to Win Butler’s eerie vocals, or the subtle, building intensity of the rhythm section, or the climatic swell of the orchestral arrangement. All this while the band deals with the threat of Armageddon ('Mirror, mirror on the wall, show me where their bombs will fall), now that’s no easy task.
And so it is that Neon Bible finds Arcade Fire making a much wider statement on the world around them. Their ‘topics du jour’ ranging from Armageddon and religion, to consumerism and their own success. Despite their sentiments being tinged with despair, they somehow manage to sound uplifting and triumphant throughout – standouts include ‘Keep The Car Running’ and ‘(Antichrist Television Blues)’.
However, the highlight of the album sits at track 5, with ‘Black Wave / Bad Vibrations’. An unashamedly theatrical song, with Regine Chassagne’s opening vocals merely a prelude to a bridge that delivers driving percussion, an angelic choir and Win Butler plaintively calling “Stop now before its too late…. Nothing lasts forever, that’s the way its gotta be….”. Brilliant.
It is worth noting (just because everyone else will) that there are a couple of tracks where Arcade Fire appears to have channelled Bruce Springsteen – but unlike The Killers, they nail it.
One of the most anticipated albums of the year and it will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best.
Essential Tracks
Black Mirror
Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
(Antichrist Television Blues)
Full Track Listing
1. Black Mirror (4:13)
2. Keep the Car Running (3:29)
3. Neon Bible (2:16)
4. Intervention (4:19)
5. Black Wave/Bad Vibrations (3:57)
6. Ocean of Noise (4:53)
7. The Well and the Lighthouse (3:56)
8. (Antichrist Television Blues) (5:10)
9. Windowsill (4:16)
10. No Cars Go (5:43)
11. My Body Is a Cage (4:47)
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