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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PaulCMar 3, 2007This album is phenomenal. I'd almost go so far as to say its better than Funeral. Almost.
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tiffanybApr 2, 2007i love this band and there music
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mattaMar 2, 2007
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SylvioMMar 7, 2007So far the worst album them.
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Kelly'1'Mar 9, 2007I finally understand the term 'art-rock'; and that term is not pretentious here. The most cohesive album since OK Computer
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SIApr 2, 2007'Intervention' is a theatrical god send. The entire record is blasphemously grand.
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AaronNApr 7, 2007
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danwOct 1, 2007
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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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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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madslMar 12, 2007
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JAMar 10, 2007The music is magnificent, feels like an expansion of their debut sound, a lot darker, richer, and with much improved production. However, the lyrics are pretty bad in some songs. Some of the rhymes make me cringe, my least favorite existing in the title track. An improvement in some ways, a detraction in others. Still one of the greater releases so far this year.
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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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PeterLMar 1, 2007Better? Worst? Simply different and as good as.
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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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MårtenMar 2, 2007If this is not a 10, I dont know what it! Its not Funeral, its better.
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ForrealMar 2, 2007Woah! ALbum of the year???
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TomNMar 2, 2007I loved Arcade Fire's Funeral album and their EP. But, if I had rated Neon Bible two weeks ago on my first listen I would have only rated it an 8. However, I have found myself listening to this album almost exclusively since then and would now rate it an easy perfect 10. It takes a little while to sink in but this album is ultimately one of my favorite albums of all time.
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DamianMMar 2, 2007Funeral will be album of the decade. Neon Bible may just have to settle for album of the year :)
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SamCMar 2, 2007So Great!! Have fun singing along to all the great tracks!!!
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ajprimoMar 2, 2007
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ChrisMar 2, 2007Killer album, grows on you like funeral. However, it also takes the band in a slightly different direction, the lyrics are much more rooted in politics and whats happening in the world right now. I'd agree with others who've posted, this pretty much solidifies Arcade Fire as one of the first truly great bands of the decade, and the best Canadian Indie band ever.
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dingusgMar 30, 2007the reason why older NA indie bands are unrecognized is that they can't compete w/TAF. wah wah. if you've ever seen a live show, you know what i'm talkin about.
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PatS.Mar 4, 2007Their lyrics are clumsy and obvious. More ambiguity needed, pronto.
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ChuckSMar 4, 2007even though it's cool to slag off the arcade fire now, i just can't do it! this album is great!
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SinderVMar 4, 2007One of the best albums of the 2000's. Whatever its excesses may be, they are easily justified.
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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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KellyMar 5, 2007If anything this album is under-hyped.
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MarcGMar 5, 2007such a disappointment...
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HenrikSMar 5, 2007This album is not nearly as good as "Funeral".
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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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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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KrisBMar 6, 2007
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NaveenPMar 7, 2007As strong, if not stronger than Funeral
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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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ChrisGMar 7, 2007Absolutely brilliant. Those who diss or don't get it are either not listening closely enough or don't enjoy the band for what it is.
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JohnKMar 7, 2007It took a couple listens but I am hooked. I think it is just as good as Funeral.
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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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MikePMar 9, 2007Not as great as Funeral, but still up there. The scope of the music and lyrics has expanded, and thankfully, on the whole, the songs havent been lost under the need to make a 'new' sound. The one let down for me is that one of the best tracks - No Cars Go - is a revamped version of a 3 year old song from their original EP, and i prefer the old mix!
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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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GuyHMar 9, 2007
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ErinKApr 10, 2007This may be a little premature but... I think we have the best rock album of the year. I just can't imagine anything else being better. Not only do I think we'll still be talking about this album as being one of the very best of 2008 come December, it may also be one of the best sophomore albums I've heard in years.
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DJMiknocheApr 16, 2007This is a wonderful disc. Made me fall in love with rock music all over again. Just like when I first heard Patti Smith's "Horses" or Television's "Marquee Moon", or the Stones' "Exile..." or Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush". Arcade Fire's music makes me come apart in a blissful way! A disc for the ages...
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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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DouglasD.Aug 1, 2007After The Radiohead Age, came the The Arcade Fire Age. It's hard to compare Neon Bible to Funeral, but, after several auditions, the comparison is over. NB is a great solid album and the new version of No Cars Go is wonderful.
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ScottAug 22, 2007
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NeonB.Feb 8, 2008Masterpiece, one of the best in decade and in my opinion even better than Funeral. I enjoy every single piece of it.
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TiagoA.Oct 4, 2009Another great album from this wonderful band.
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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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BrettBOct 29, 2007Ive only just discovered this gem..........I listened to Funeral after hearing this..........what great talents and hopefully more to come...........truly the best release for 2007 so far.....
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AlexFeb 16, 2007Fantastic Sophmore!
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MichaelFeb 18, 2007Inventive. Refreshing. Complex. Pure genuis! "Neon Bible" solidifies Arcade Fire's prominence into modern, uncomercialized music.
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JordanCFeb 19, 2007Another great album. They've taken the best song of their first LP remastered it and it serves as a heavy hitter to end the second LP. I don't know if its good or bad that they will never have another album with angst and frustration that we found with funeral. But lets hope they keep making music like this.
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ScottFFeb 20, 2007It doesn't have the same twists and turns that Funeral did, but that results in a more solid and focussed feeling album.
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TylerCFeb 24, 2007I loved Funeral But this is just plain boring to me. The songs just dont sound very good to me aside from a couple of songs (neon bible, and keep the car running are good). the rest is just plain not very interesting music.
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MenschFeb 28, 2007
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borisrMar 10, 2007I was looking forward to this album, however there is nothing new or good here. The first album was powerful, emotional and brilliant. However, the lyrics here are base and do not provoke any kind of feeling or power; they are dreary and without any real purpose or meaning.
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JustinAMar 10, 2007There are certainly a number of missteps here - namely the clunky lyrics on "Black Mirror", the sterile "Neon Bible" and "My Body is a Cage" - but when The Arcade Fire stick to what they do best - play earnest, emotional art rock including all the instruments under the sun - they are as damn good they ever were on Funeral.
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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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ChemaPMar 1, 2007
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JonasFMar 11, 2007
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JonFMar 11, 2007YAY! Thank god these people were put on Earth. Music is this and only what this should be.
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laloMar 10, 2007Brilliant. Intense!
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KellyWalrusMar 11, 2007Although the songs on Neon Bible are on par with the songs on Funeral, I have to admit that Funeral is the overall better album. Also, as Kris B stated, the special edition is quite lame and is not worth the extra $12 (Canadian).
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AllenMMar 1, 2007A whole new direction seperate from Funeral. I love this album.
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SeanVMar 10, 2007Everything I wanted, and more. Keep the Arcade Fire Running.
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StaffordMar 1, 2007
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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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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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RRMar 14, 2007Pure Magic.
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karlravageMar 17, 2007Most powerful disc since PearlJam vs.Oh, and Rollingstone and NOW have a bunch of fags writing for them. Your skinny freaking legs in tight jeans are making your brain bleed!!!
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PhilippedMar 10, 2007I have to say I was fearing the worst when I listened it first, but when you give it few listens (like many said), you realize the Masterpiece it is. My Body Is A Cage, No Cars Go, Ocean of Noise and Intervention are my favorite so far. I think only The National can beat them for Album of the Year
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KevinJMar 19, 2007
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ColinSMar 2, 2007Excellent Sophmore effort.
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SteveMar 2, 2007Why does this band get such high nods all the time. They are total crap.
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andresLMar 20, 2007They deliver in spite of the insane expectations.
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KidAMar 20, 2007After I listened through this album the first time I let out a massive sigh of relief. My beloved Arcade Fire had made an album that maintained the immensely high standard of Funeral. If you loved Funeral, you will love this.
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TonyDMar 2, 2007Best band ever.
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KevinCMar 2, 2007Here's an idea: stop being so fixated on Funeral. This obsessive need to rank Neon Bible as "better" or "worse" is getting tiring. Neon Bible is an amazing record and fully stands on its own without the need for Funeral to prop it up. I realize we're only 3 months in, but so far there's simply no album this year that comes even close to the brilliance and power of Neon Bible.
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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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SamHMar 22, 2007A generation-defining release of tension from post-modern pressures. A couple of weaker songs ("Intervention" and "Black Wave") are a little too melodramatic for me, but this is some of the most genuinely emotional alternative rock of the decade.
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JGMar 22, 2007Simply the best. Arcade Fire has the power to evoke emotion out of their listeners like no other band out there. Can't get enough of this album.
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dgMar 2, 2007How they didn't disappoint us after Funeral is beyond me...but this album picks up at just the right spot, with a different sound, but a great listen again. These guys are on fire.
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JayPMar 23, 2007
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cfMar 23, 2007
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ZeroSMar 20, 2007
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MarcMar 2, 2007Pure genius. Give it a few listens before you dismiss it as an 'ok' follow up to Funeral. I can't stop listening to it. 'Intervention' gives me chills. In my mind, this record stakes a claim for the Arcade fire as the 'best band on the planet' right now.
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MichaelSMar 2, 2007
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MarkZMar 28, 2007Boring and contrived... is there a pulse out there in Montreal? Two good tracks surrounding by garbage... this band gets more "they are so David Bowie cool" milage than any other I can remember. This is a limp comparison to Funeral......
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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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KevinEMar 3, 2007
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Erics.Mar 31, 2007Overrated.
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ChelseahMar 3, 2007I feel a stronger connection to this album than Funeral. Powerful album, talented artists.
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JohnQ.PubilusMar 3, 2007The musical equivalent of WMDs in Iraq. We kept hearing all about them (i.e. the great songs supposedly on this record) but when looked for, nothing was found. Funeral was bloated and directionless, but at least energetic. This is just bloated.
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OliverCMar 4, 2007As a follow up for funeral it feels a little sad at first. But after a few listens it really does add a whole new great sound to the Arcade Fire's history. The only thing it could use is some more variation, but what it does focus on it does very well. Would love to see them live..
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Mr.HankeyMar 4, 2007It's a near-perfect attempt at gothic gospel rock. Deep, lyrically and musically, Neon Bible proves this band as being the most important band of the decade. "Funeral" was a brilliant album, Neon Bible sounds nothing like it but still has this essence of childlike innocence even if it is darker. They are back!
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KrisSMar 4, 2007By all means, I don't believe it is better than Funeral... However, I can't put the damn thing down! I can't stop playing it constantly whether at home or driving to work or even in my head.
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JoeDMar 4, 2007I wouldn't say it's better than Funeral, but I sure wouldn't say it's worse, either. Both are perfect in different ways, and I couldn't be happier with this album.
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matthMar 4, 2007another incredible record from the best indie band in the world.
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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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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]