Neon Bible
by Arcade Fire
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Mar 6, 2007
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 918 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 819 out of 918
  2. Mixed: 71 out of 918
  3. Negative: 28 out of 918

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  1. TimothyTuatara
    Aug 16, 2013
    6
    Arcade Fire, trying to outshine Funeral, have created a melodramatic, overdone work. It has some good songs but just doesn't have the heart of Funeral.
  2. moonman1994
    Jan 21, 2013
    6
    I consider myself an Arcade Fire fan but Neon Bible just lacks the amount of variety present on Funeral and The Suburbs. Neon Bible does have impressive orchestration especially in the new rendition of No Cars Go. But overall this album is lacking in songs that pop out and lacks the amazing variety that their other two albums have.
  3. KlausV
    May 27, 2008
    6
    The intro Black Mirror and title track are the only bright spots on this album, the rest is forgettable blackness.
  4. Stevio
    Apr 28, 2008
    4
    Completely over-rated. Some original sounds but clumsy adolescent lyrics which are embarrassing to listen to.
  5. RichK.
    Apr 11, 2008
    6
    The album, I felt was so overrated. There are so many other albums that exceeded to be considered as the best album of the year.
  6. BobBob
    Feb 24, 2008
    6
    I don't get this albums high praise. The song Neon Bible just seems slow and unmoving. I like the no Cars Go song, but what else. For new stuff this year give me Of Montreal or LCD.
  7. JimH
    Dec 28, 2007
    6
    Disappointingly mundane follow-up that makes me think that I overestimated its predecessor. This has some good songs toward the end but this seems like a band that's already losing momentum.
  8. DavidF.
    Dec 5, 2007
    6
    If this record came out before Funeral people would not have thought nearly as highly of it. For me, it lacks the energy it's predecessor has. The album is okay, but nothing special.
  9. RJM.
    Nov 10, 2007
    4
    stupid stupid stupid. vacuous social commentary. even worse production. funeral had a few good moments; this has fewer.
  10. BrianD.
    Nov 7, 2007
    5
    Take 3 steps forward. Then take 6 steps backwards and drop a deuce where you stand. That's what Arcade Fire did in releasing this album as the follow up to Funeral.
  11. anonymousy
    Oct 22, 2007
    5
    Not bad but not that great.
  12. danw
    Oct 1, 2007
    5
    This album has to rate as one of the biggest disappointments I've experienced. Funeral had an effortless mystery and splendour that was completely exhilarating but Neon Bible makes me feel like I've been fooled. It's trite and overcooked - a hollow shell in comparison. It probably isn't a terrible album - it's just that it's not a patch on Funeral and This album has to rate as one of the biggest disappointments I've experienced. Funeral had an effortless mystery and splendour that was completely exhilarating but Neon Bible makes me feel like I've been fooled. It's trite and overcooked - a hollow shell in comparison. It probably isn't a terrible album - it's just that it's not a patch on Funeral and I've really tried to give it a chance.… Expand
  13. SteveO.
    Sep 25, 2007
    4
    I feel like I'm not in the cool club here. I bought this hoping for something earth shattering and found it only average - in fact from the first song I didn't like it. The comparison is less Talking Heads art rock and more Black 47 via Springsteen, but without the heart to back up the social commentary.
  14. HollisG.
    Aug 16, 2007
    6
    Good album, but I feel like Arcade Fire expanded on and explored all the things about them that I didn't really dig, rather than move in a more daring, explosive direction. I wanted to love this album, I really did. But I suppose the final test is that I really just don't listen to it that much.
  15. J.B.
    Jul 24, 2007
    5
    Solid descibes it best; over-hyped - yes; boring - no
  16. JayK
    Jul 20, 2007
    5
    Solid enough form the Canadians but not a patch on Funeral. Interventions is really good but what the hell is it about?Thought war,religion but try as I might it just doesn't make coherent sense.No cars go great but heard it before.Cant remember any of the other song. I recommend that people move on...they've had their 15 mins..give bands like menomna your undivided attentation Solid enough form the Canadians but not a patch on Funeral. Interventions is really good but what the hell is it about?Thought war,religion but try as I might it just doesn't make coherent sense.No cars go great but heard it before.Cant remember any of the other song. I recommend that people move on...they've had their 15 mins..give bands like menomna your undivided attentation and leave commerical sell-outs(Its not their fault I know just whats happens) to entertain the dumb masses!!… Expand
  17. JordanK
    Jun 13, 2007
    5
    I appreciate what they're trying to do and what they stand for. But I can't stand their songwriting. The musical ideas are simple and repetitive; sometimes they're dressed up enough so that it doesn't matter how monotonous the chordal and melodic structure are (this was done really well in Funeral), but in this album, no arrangement, no matter how decorative, could I appreciate what they're trying to do and what they stand for. But I can't stand their songwriting. The musical ideas are simple and repetitive; sometimes they're dressed up enough so that it doesn't matter how monotonous the chordal and melodic structure are (this was done really well in Funeral), but in this album, no arrangement, no matter how decorative, could make these musical ideas work. It's just too repetitive. Maybe half the songs on the album could stand with a simpler arrangement. It's just too repetitive. The ornaments look pretty, but they're bringing down the branches of the tree. It's just too repetitive. It's just too repetitive.… Expand
  18. AndrewC.
    Jun 5, 2007
    6
    This album is overrated. It's better than Funeral, but it's not that special. I particularly enjoy two tracks off the album - "Where no cars go" which is a rip off of Prefab Sprout's King Of Rock n' Roll, and Antichrist Television Blues, which is a great tribute to Bruce Springsteen.
  19. MikeA
    May 29, 2007
    6
    I just don't understand the hype over this band. This disc, like their debut is interesting, but not deserving of the accolades it seems to be getting.
  20. tbone
    Apr 29, 2007
    4
    Ugg. So many bad things to say. Like Destroyer and New Pornographers, you gotta either love em or hate em. I don't buy the schtick. barely veiled ripoffs of better artists. Too many gimicks. Overly bombastic. Pam Anderson remains the best thing to come out of Canada by alot.
  21. hooner
    Apr 25, 2007
    5
    Sounds like it was recorded in a shed! NOT the best band of all time, I wish you people would get some perspective and stop herelding evry new band the best ever.
  22. wolfbag
    Apr 2, 2007
    5
    Am I allowed to say this? Well...here goes...I thnik this is a pretty weak album compared to Funeral. It sounds like Arcade Fire doing Arcade Fire covers, i.e. a bit formulaic and overly dramatic, plus there's a lot of cringeworthy lyrics. The only surprising bit is the Springsteen impression, but if I wanted that I would have bought one of his own albums. There, I said it.
  23. Erics.
    Mar 31, 2007
    5
    Overrated.
  24. TrentN
    Mar 28, 2007
    6
    Its a good album but i dont belive the band well ever put out anything as good a Funeral. The prduction on this album is really poor compared to the last one.
  25. JosephA
    Mar 26, 2007
    6
    This is a really good album, but the production is piss poor. Everything is covered by everything else leaving little room for any of the instrumentation to shine. The lyrics are great and the arrangements and songwriting as well. But unfortunately, its all very cramped and mono for such colorful instrumentation. A shame really.
  26. dana
    Mar 23, 2007
    6
    Lumpen. These guys seem to be the most acclaimed band going at the moment which is a great shame to older North American indie bands who have blazed trails for 15/20 years to go virtually unrecognized and have these guys take the plaudits. Indie music died in 2004, the niche is being exploited. Thing is,the music isn't so bad but like Coldplay it's horribly average and been done Lumpen. These guys seem to be the most acclaimed band going at the moment which is a great shame to older North American indie bands who have blazed trails for 15/20 years to go virtually unrecognized and have these guys take the plaudits. Indie music died in 2004, the niche is being exploited. Thing is,the music isn't so bad but like Coldplay it's horribly average and been done better before. Don't believe the hype.… Expand
  27. JayP
    Mar 23, 2007
    6
    I really love Funeral, but i've listened to this a couple of times and I just don't get excited. For the most part it's just got too many slow songs for me and the production was really boring and predicable - enough with the violins. The subject matter is just so cliche at this point as well. oooooh religion and war are bad....we get it. A few of the songs are pretty good. I really love Funeral, but i've listened to this a couple of times and I just don't get excited. For the most part it's just got too many slow songs for me and the production was really boring and predicable - enough with the violins. The subject matter is just so cliche at this point as well. oooooh religion and war are bad....we get it. A few of the songs are pretty good. The songs on Funeral were about something so under explored and pondered in spite of the fact that death and loss is something all of us are surrounded with.… Expand
  28. EvanS
    Mar 17, 2007
    5
    A huge fan of Funeral, I just don't get this album. The band pulls the same rally cry intended to put you on your feet but left me scratching my head. Why must every song on this album end sound like a potential theme song for the Olympics? Pure cheese. They can do better.
  29. ScottW
    Mar 16, 2007
    5
    What happened to the Arcade Fire? They've abandoned their signature sound from the EP and Funeral just to sound gloomy and depressed. This album is average except for the song "No Cars Go" which is originally on the EP. The melodies are bland and Regine's voice sounds shrill and discordant, unlike her eerie and beautiful singing on Funeral. I think people are pretending the What happened to the Arcade Fire? They've abandoned their signature sound from the EP and Funeral just to sound gloomy and depressed. This album is average except for the song "No Cars Go" which is originally on the EP. The melodies are bland and Regine's voice sounds shrill and discordant, unlike her eerie and beautiful singing on Funeral. I think people are pretending the album is better than it really is because they don't want to sacrifice their view of the Arcade Fire as THE great band of the century.… Expand
  30. LS
    Mar 15, 2007
    5
    Not great, not bad
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Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Album of 2007
2
#2 Most Discussed Album of 2007
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Hot Press
    95
    So, Funeral was by no means a fluke. The Arcade Fire are unquestionably the real deal. And to prove it they’ve now thrown in another contender for ‘best record of the decade’.
    Read full review
  2. Observer Music Monthly
    100
    The Canadian septet are the greatest art rock group since Talking Heads stopped making sense.
    Read full review
  3. Alternative Press
    80
    While devotees of Funeral... will surely enjoy Neon Bible, the album does have a decidedly different feel than its predecessor--mainly, there seems to be less of an emphasis on choruses. [Apr 2007, p.182]
See all critic reviews »