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. MikeS.
    Sep 19, 2007
    0
    I loved their live show back in 2003 with The Unicorns. enjoyed a few songs on that ep. disappointed with Funeral. this one justs falls flat. even the remake for "no cars go" was pointless.
  2. JeffK.
    Aug 30, 2007
    3
    Major hype going on here. The first album was terrific, partly because it hewed to the personal. Here, Win Butler's written songs about the world outside of himself. The lyrics are, to be kind, trite. They lack the authenticity and specificity of the best numbers on Funeral. And the music? No melodic hooks, which is okay if you replace it with something really original (listen to TV Major hype going on here. The first album was terrific, partly because it hewed to the personal. Here, Win Butler's written songs about the world outside of himself. The lyrics are, to be kind, trite. They lack the authenticity and specificity of the best numbers on Funeral. And the music? No melodic hooks, which is okay if you replace it with something really original (listen to TV on the Radio), here watered down, diluted and disparate references abound. It's all so vague, so much "oh the world is dark" posturing, it's all so perfectly unearned. Pretentious to the core. The exception is 'No Cars Go' which predates the Funeral material. Major, major disappointment.… Expand
  3. DarkDaylight
    Jul 11, 2007
    0
    the most over rated band in years
  4. Jeff
    Jul 5, 2007
    1
    I definitely don't understand all the hype. I listen to lots of music and have listened to this CD about a dozen times and all I can describe it as is boring. I wanted to like it. Based on everything I read I was excited to listen...but I think it's garbage.
  5. Shootsy
    May 17, 2007
    0
    universal acclaim? ahahahah...I mean c'mon. Music like this has died 25 years ago and the snake's been biting his tail since then. Crap music made by crappy musicians for even crappier listeners. Unbelievable.
  6. MatthewC
    May 5, 2007
    0
    Boo
  7. What'stheHype
    Apr 8, 2007
    3
    These guys are borderline emo. Ugh... one of the song reminded me of Meat Loaf. Someone recommended them to me. Waste of my money.
  8. LukeM
    Apr 1, 2007
    2
    I didn't love Funeral, but I could see why some would. This is just terrible. There's a constant wall of sound behind the vocals, but there are no songs! No melodies worth going back to, except for on old song No Cars Go. And honestly, they're not aping Springsteen; they're aping Pete Yorn aping Springsteen. Listen to the opening of Life On a Chain then the opening of I didn't love Funeral, but I could see why some would. This is just terrible. There's a constant wall of sound behind the vocals, but there are no songs! No melodies worth going back to, except for on old song No Cars Go. And honestly, they're not aping Springsteen; they're aping Pete Yorn aping Springsteen. Listen to the opening of Life On a Chain then the opening of Antichrist Television Blues. I like Pete, but I don't want Arcade Fire to sound like him! Basically, I've listened to the album about 7 times and nothing on it makes me want to listen again. Be objective and have a listen before you buy.… Expand
  9. MarkZ
    Mar 28, 2007
    2
    Boring 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......
  10. cf
    Mar 23, 2007
    2
    After 8 listenings and countless hours fitfully tossing in bed trying to shake the sense of guilt at hating this album, I am proud to be one of the (very few) detractors. While the sound booms, the lyrics are laughable high school poetry, complete with awkward rhyme schemes, obvious imagery, and a melodramatic sense of self-righteousness that would embarrass even a 15-year-old girl. The After 8 listenings and countless hours fitfully tossing in bed trying to shake the sense of guilt at hating this album, I am proud to be one of the (very few) detractors. While the sound booms, the lyrics are laughable high school poetry, complete with awkward rhyme schemes, obvious imagery, and a melodramatic sense of self-righteousness that would embarrass even a 15-year-old girl. The arrangements can be impressive, but they are impressive in the same sense that, to paraphrase Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips, a crane is an impressive flyswatter. The whole stinking turd is coated in layer after layer of nougat and caramel, but underneath it's still s***. The songwriting here is remarkably dull, essentially a group of goth teens aping Echo & The Bunnymen covering Bruce Springsteen. At least two of the songs are re-recordings of old songs, and one of these old songs was covered by another band in a far superior form some two years ago. Unfortunately, in the effort to make 'universal' music, Arcade Fire have made a massive, plodding bore full of platitudes and overwrought pap.… Collapse
  11. borisr
    Mar 10, 2007
    3
    I 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.
  12. RickS
    Mar 9, 2007
    2
    I must be stupid, i must, thats all i hear when i say this band is awful. People who like this band let alone worship there albums seems to bash other well known bands, as to try and prove something. Is this art? Is this what I
  13. RubyW.
    Mar 8, 2007
    3
    So this is what the emperor wears--nothing at all! I liked the first album, but this one is almost unlistenable. Yes--the lyrics are cryptic. The music swells and swirls! Too bad the songs aren't good.
  14. adamh
    Mar 5, 2007
    3
    i still don't get this band. they seem like a bunch of pretentious rich kids to me. i think it would be healthier for teenagers today to buy the black lips and stay clear of this "emotional" jive.
  15. HenrikS
    Mar 5, 2007
    0
    This album is not nearly as good as "Funeral".
  16. Mark
    Mar 4, 2007
    0
    Eww! This is a disgusting record from a talented band.
  17. jeffreyj
    Mar 3, 2007
    2
    Get over it. These guys and girls are the same boys and girls that got there butts kicked in high school. Losers!
  18. JohnQ.Pubilus
    Mar 3, 2007
    2
    The 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.
  19. Steve
    Mar 2, 2007
    0
    Why does this band get such high nods all the time. They are total crap.

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 »