User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 918 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 819 out of 918
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Mixed: 71 out of 918
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Negative: 28 out of 918
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JonathanHMar 18, 2007
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FrancescoDec 22, 2007I think in some ways it's even better than Funeral. And that's a lot to say.
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Sep 24, 2010
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Sep 2, 2012Yes I'm writing this review in 2012, but now I've revisited this album after not giving it a fair chance the first time. I'm pleased to say that there is not a weak song on here. The other thing I like about it is the sense of cohesion and unity of mood that pervades. It really is a fun and engaging listen, and I daresay is my favorite AF album.
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Nov 14, 2011I think its hated on far too much because of how anti-religious this album is. Its not anti-religious in a bad way, Its merely saying that religion (while widely accepted) causes a lot more problems then what it is worth and that one day we will have to choose to keep it or abandond it. I loved this album and imo its the best album Arcade Fire put out.
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May 16, 2011My least favourite Arcade Fire album, though still pretty outstanding... I love Black Mirror and My Body Is A Cage, though the only song that brings the score of this album down is Keep The Car Running
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May 12, 2011i enjoyed listening to this album. it was great. i still got to listen to funeral. but i really do like this one a lot. it had some great songs on this record
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Nov 8, 2011Not as good as it's predecessor, but still relevant in their songwriting and progression as a band. I like how they get down with their darker side, where Funeral seems lighter with a bit more of a pop feel.
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Mar 2, 2012I think that Funeral is the best Arcade Fire's album, but Neon Bible is my favorite. It's no pretentious but ambitious. The band made a very good album.
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Feb 23, 2014
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Jul 15, 2014A fantastic album that encompasses such grand themes and lyricism that far outdo the competition today. An absolute masterpiece; lyrically, musically, thematically, and although vocally it isn't outstanding, that's almost the point... like the themes in their songs; nothing is perfect.
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Dec 30, 2017
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DecepticonPomMar 12, 2007Wow - I think this has provoked the most polarised user comments of any album on Metacritic! Personally, not nearly as good as the flawless Funeral, but still gut wrenchingly honest and melancholly. A wonderful experience.
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t0nySMar 2, 2007imo, not as good as funeral, but then again, funeral took awhile for me to like it. At first listen i enjoyed it alot, hopefully as the listens build up it follows suite, much like funeral. I give it an 8, check it out!
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MichaelDMar 4, 2007Two of the biggest mistakes seen in most sophmore albums are that they sound exactly the same and/or lack the musical talent that was seen in its predecessor. The Arcade Fire has created something that equals, or even improves, on their previous musical effort. Not only that, they have taken a new direction altogether... and they pulled it off.
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reyMar 5, 2007I feel bad for the arcade fire because they set the bar so freakin high with "Funeral" that it is really hard, for me at least, to listen to "Neon Bible" "objectively". i don't think that this album will get the respect it deserves it. nevertheless, it is a worthy follow-up. songs like "ocean of noise"", "no cars go", and "keep the car running" are top-notch.
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NaveenPMar 7, 2007As strong, if not stronger than Funeral
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GuyHMar 9, 2007
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MenschFeb 28, 2007
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PrestonTMar 10, 2007Obviously it would be next to impossible to expect this album to live up to Funeral, so I won't even go there. It is a very strong album emotionally and has several moments when they use their crescendos to perfection. However, a couple of the songs are duds, and that really has an effect on the overall cohesiveness. All in all, it's made me even more excited for their next release.
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BillPMar 13, 2007Anyone who has always been a fan of Springsteen's voice but couldn't bare his horrendous lyrics and show-bouty James Brown rip off act should like this album. No lyrics about dancing and waving a flag around here just great lines and fine musicianship. Glad he finally decided to stop imitating Byrne!
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FelipePMar 2, 2007Good record, but failed when the record is not make with the same reasons like Funeral, with the heart and soul and fatalities, sounds more artificial and some poor lyrics, but it's a awesome second album.
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CraigMar 4, 2007one of those CD's that you warm up to more and more the more you listen to it.
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DeryWMar 5, 2007Disappointing on first listen but it slowly grows on you and now I am hooked.
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AramisGMar 7, 2007Really good second album! Takes a few listens to sink in. Not as catchy as Funeral, but whatever bands can't always make every album as good as their "best". Love the Bruce Springstien-esque songs. One thing that is a little lazy is putting No Cars Go on this album. The new version isn't that different. I would have preffered to just have another new song.
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ToddWMar 7, 2007
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KevinRMar 8, 2007A very strong follow up to Funeral, yet it just doesn't quite flow as well.
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TaylorA.Mar 9, 2007
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HexumNApr 15, 2007This album is overrated, but it's still very good. It can be slow and serious, and it's powerful. Has some meaning. Very diverse songs. It's worth a listen.
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JoeSJun 3, 2007I think people are being very overcritical on this album, perhaps because of what Funeral brought to us all. I like it, it's got some good anthems, some good imagaination - just not as much as Funeral did. That doesn't mean its a total fuck up! If we were going to get another masterpiece then I'd start questioning the bands human nature...So all in all: its really good.
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LeeteF.Apr 18, 2008Well, this album is fine, but the producer fucked up for real. I HATE it when i have to try SO FUCKING HARD TO HEAR WHAT THE FUCK GOES ON WITH THE INSTRUMENTS!?!? Lyrics are fine, nice melodies and shit, but you can't just make instruments unhearable and.. indistinct (?).
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LukeRMar 13, 2007I listened to this album expecting another "Funeral", and it didn't do that, so the first listen was dissapointing. Subsequent listens really dawn on you the fact that this is not at all a bad thing, a really enjoyable album.
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AndyMar 17, 2007Neon Bible doesn't hold gems like Crown of Love and Rebellion (Lies), but overall; it has many more great tracks. Slightly darker, almost goth, but it is one hell of an album.
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JamsieJMar 28, 2007I am a HUGE fan and ABSOLUTELY adore FUNERAL - it's my fav record. Neon Bible is very good too but not as thrilling as Funeral. It's like they're playing to a bigger audience with the anthemic nature of some of the songs. No Cars Go is still brilliant and i really like Intervention, Black Mirror, The Well and The Lighthouse plus the doom-laden feel to My Body is a Cage.
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ErikRMar 31, 2007
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JesusBaconMar 5, 2007I wasn't expecting it to live up to the hype, and it didn't, but it's still a pretty damn good album.
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TomYMar 7, 2007Let's face it. This album was never going to live up to the hype. Nonetheless, the album is quite polished and beautiful. Intervention delivers some of the passion we heard on Funeral with a church-like organ backdrop. I didn't like that they re-recorded no cars go. It really isn't much different than the original.
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OligamiMay 20, 2007Certainly not better than Funeral (how could it?), but it has its moments.
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ScottW.Aug 19, 2007It hits the spot right on. Great albume and shows that this band has lots going for it.
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TylerFFeb 27, 2007Not nearly as good as Funeral. But still a strong album. Favorite tracks are 'Keep the Car Running', 'Intervention' and the revamped version of old EP favorite 'No Cars Go'.
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davegMar 12, 2007pretty good, but no funeral
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DickBMar 14, 2007
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TaniaC.Sep 24, 2008I think it very good, with lovely tunes and songs that stick to your head for days
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Oct 19, 2011
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Dec 6, 2020
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May 9, 2014
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May 13, 2022Intervention is unbelievably good
The other songs are pretty good as well! -
markbMar 10, 2007I agree with one of the reviews that said this was much more "goth." It sounds a lot like Echo and the Bunnymen, but Echo and the Bunnymen's Ocean Songs is better. Good stuff, but more derivative than Funeral.
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CrabsodyInBlueMar 10, 2007Some people in this forum select 10 or 9 rating very easily. It's a very good album but it is not masterpiece. Which should be the rating for albums as The dark side of the moon, Highway to Hell, Ok Computer etc. etc then? 1000? 2000?
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SimonOMar 7, 2007i like it. however there arent enough stand out tracks for me. its very much an album album, like pitchfork said u can only really access it from one point and thats the opening track and then it takes u on a dense, moody, glorious journey from there on in
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PerspicaciousCriticMar 9, 2007I don't know why some bands, like Doves, who have a very similar, epic and emotive sound as Arcade Fire (and who, to me, surpass Arcade Fire) doesn't get the overzealous, universal hype, like Arcade Fire. Fate can be fickle, sometimes.
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DaveMar 7, 2007I've listened to this a few times now, and i have to say I think it is a bit overrated. There are some very good songs here, but none that come close to the greatness of "Wake Up" or "Crown of Love". I'm just amazed at the number of people calling this a masterpiece, it's far from it at least imo.
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AndreaPMar 9, 2007Funeral was better, this album has not great riff like Wake up or Rebellion
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OwenMay 3, 2007Loved Funeral. Album of the year certainly, and as Hot Press say, contender for album of the decade. Some great tracks here too, but it over-whelms me a bit, the title track is atrocious, and I can't swallow the trite anti-church lyric on Intervention. It will still get spun, but a little disappointing.
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AndrewPMay 9, 2007Intervention is great. Aside from that, there is good, and there is bad. Pitchfork got it right, the lyrics are very clunky and detract from the music (Black Mirror). I just don't understand the obsession with this release, as it is clearly inferior to Funeral.
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ArthurD.Jun 1, 2007It takes a while to get and repeated listens definitely does help, but sadly it is not quite as good as their last album "Funeral". It has a couple of absolute classic songs that will stand the test of time "Black Wave/Bad Vibrations", "Keep the car Running", but I was kind of disappointed with the overall CD. Played live however, these songs really come alive.
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J.K.Dec 14, 2007Straddling the line between mournful angst and pessimistic hope, Neon Bible will probably have something that can resonate with just about anyone. It doesn't really have anything original to say, either in content or execution, but the bluesy, poppy, and funeralistic mix on display here is easy to listen to and hard to resist for most of the album before it starts to feel overblown.
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ElizabethPMar 13, 2007
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MorganGMar 16, 2007BEWARE of the sophomore curse! A sadly, uninspiring CD. Arcade FIre, you can do better this!
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LeoFMar 3, 2007at first i was astonished. but then i listened to it more and more and more... and now I think it's just good.
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BrianCApr 18, 2007
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JustinSApr 27, 2007A pretty good sophmore effort. Most of the tracks are pretty good, but there's nothing that really stands out like on their from album like "Lies" or "Neighborhood #1". "Intervention" is really the only track that capture the magic from "Funeral".
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lukeSep 25, 2007enjoyable. half of the songs are too springsteen for my taste, but the remainder makes up for it. I can also hear some roger waters and pulp sound strangely enough. This album could be on my top five by the end of the year.
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GeorgeHFeb 27, 2007It's good, but nowhere near Funeral.
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RGJul 26, 2007
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Apr 21, 2011
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May 6, 2022
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MarcGMar 5, 2007such a disappointment...
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JimDMar 6, 2007What is someone looking for the deffinative online review of Neon Bible to do? Some praise the Arcade Fire
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MattD.Mar 7, 2007I just didn't get Funeral like others did, and still don't see what the big deal about Neon Bible is. Yes, the songs are given a little more room, but there's still a cinematic quality that works against them. It's like they try too hard to be hip and give the critics what they want. Concentrate more on developing the songs.
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DavidF.Dec 5, 2007If 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.
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ChemaPMar 1, 2007
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DerekHMar 14, 2007This is an album of moments, events, and heterotopic spaces. Unfortunately, the band's approach is hindered in some tracks by static forms; and in others by movement/s which lose their relation to time and form. A great album--if it were by any band other than Arcade Fire.
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JayPMar 23, 2007
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MichaelSMar 2, 2007
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MarciusMar 5, 2007Michael S. said it all.
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raeltFeb 20, 2007Quite disapponting, but yet decent enough so that most critics will call it a masterpiece... I'll probably put it down in few days and go back to listening Funeral
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JosephAMar 26, 2007This 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.
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TrentNMar 28, 2007Its 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.
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RichardPMar 3, 2007Some great songs. Some really not great songs. But let's avoid hyperboles like "best band ever". That just shows how few bands you've listened to.
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RobbieCMar 8, 2007I feel luke warm about this album. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I may have to spend more time with it, but so far, I think Neon Bible is over-rated and over-hyped. Funeral was rich in places that don't exist on this album. The best track on here is No Cars Go... and that's disappointing... that track was already great on their eponymous debut!
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MikeAMay 29, 2007I 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.
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AndrewC.Jun 5, 2007This 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.
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BobBobFeb 24, 2008I 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.
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RichK.Apr 11, 2008The album, I felt was so overrated. There are so many other albums that exceeded to be considered as the best album of the year.
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KlausVMay 27, 2008The intro Black Mirror and title track are the only bright spots on this album, the rest is forgettable blackness.
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JimHDec 28, 2007Disappointingly 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.
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T.SpeakerFeb 15, 2007It's really too bad that "Neon Bible" is going to garner critical acclaim simply because it's from the Arcade Fire. This is a decent album, but some tracks are far too repetitious (My Body is a Cage), and others don't take their potent melodies anywhere (Keep the Car Running). Thankfully, songs like "Intervention" and "Black Waves/Bad Vibrations" save the record from mediocrity.
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danaMar 23, 2007
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HollisG.Aug 16, 2007Good 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.
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Jan 21, 2013I 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.
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Aug 16, 2013Arcade 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.
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danwOct 1, 2007
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madslMar 12, 2007
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PatS.Mar 4, 2007Their lyrics are clumsy and obvious. More ambiguity needed, pronto.
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wolfbagApr 2, 2007Am 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.
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JacksonGMar 2, 2007How could you not be disappointed after Funeral? Decent, but I've heard much much better albums this year alone.
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Erics.Mar 31, 2007Overrated.
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JonathanEMar 5, 2007
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hoonerApr 25, 2007Sounds 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.
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Awards & Rankings
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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’.
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The Canadian septet are the greatest art rock group since Talking Heads stopped making sense.
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Alternative PressWhile 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]