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

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Steve
    Mar 2, 2007
    0
    Why does this band get such high nods all the time. They are total crap.
  2. ColinS
    Mar 2, 2007
    10
    Excellent Sophmore effort.
  3. matta
    Mar 2, 2007
    9
    First of all, it is a damn shame this has dropped down to an 81 already. The Playlouder is just stupid and unfair. They pretty much say it would be really good if it was anyone else, but because it's the Arcade Fire, and the expectations are high, it sucks. That makes no sense. If it's good, it's good-they shouldn't be punished just because they put out what is widely First of all, it is a damn shame this has dropped down to an 81 already. The Playlouder is just stupid and unfair. They pretty much say it would be really good if it was anyone else, but because it's the Arcade Fire, and the expectations are high, it sucks. That makes no sense. If it's good, it's good-they shouldn't be punished just because they put out what is widely considered one the best albums of the decade so far. Anyway, this album is brilliant. Lyrically, it's probably an improvement on Funeral, and while it contains nothing that reaches quite the highs of tracks like "Crown of Love" or "Wake Up," it is just consistently good, if not moreso, than Funeral. "Black Mirror" "Intervention" "Ocean of Noise" and "The Well and the LIghthouse" are all gorgeous. The best album of the year so far.… Expand
  4. FelipeP
    Mar 2, 2007
    8
    Good 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.
  5. MichaelS
    Mar 2, 2007
    6
    Looks like people are suffering from a Radiohead syndrome with Arcade Fire now, trying way hard to like whatever they make just because they are Arcade Fire. There are 4 strong tracks on the album, but none of them reach the heights of Funeral. The rest of the album ranges from mediocre to unlistenable to me because of its bizzare broadway-musical-like quality. Overall, an extremely Looks like people are suffering from a Radiohead syndrome with Arcade Fire now, trying way hard to like whatever they make just because they are Arcade Fire. There are 4 strong tracks on the album, but none of them reach the heights of Funeral. The rest of the album ranges from mediocre to unlistenable to me because of its bizzare broadway-musical-like quality. Overall, an extremely mediocre followup.… Expand
  6. ajprimo
    Mar 2, 2007
    9
    Funeral was one of the best, if not the best, album of the decade. Saying Neon Bible isn't as good as Funeral, although true, shouldn't take away from it. Requires a couple listens but once you "get" the album, it "gets" you. On repeated listenings I've gravitated towards the second half of the album , songs 6-11, more than the 1st. Solid sophmore effort...can't wait Funeral was one of the best, if not the best, album of the decade. Saying Neon Bible isn't as good as Funeral, although true, shouldn't take away from it. Requires a couple listens but once you "get" the album, it "gets" you. On repeated listenings I've gravitated towards the second half of the album , songs 6-11, more than the 1st. Solid sophmore effort...can't wait for the hat trick!!!… Expand
  7. Chris
    Mar 2, 2007
    10
    Killer 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.
  8. Marc
    Mar 2, 2007
    10
    Pure 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.
  9. SamC
    Mar 2, 2007
    10
    So Great!! Have fun singing along to all the great tracks!!!
  10. DamianM
    Mar 2, 2007
    9
    Funeral will be album of the decade. Neon Bible may just have to settle for album of the year :)
  11. Mårten
    Mar 2, 2007
    10
    If this is not a 10, I dont know what it! Its not Funeral, its better.
  12. Stafford
    Mar 1, 2007
    4
    What to say, what to say. To be honest, I really did want to like this album. Although suffering production wise, I thought Funeral was an amazingly well done. It was a beautiful and lush soundscape filled to the brim with ideas. Songs would careen wildly, often fitting a few great ideas into one pop length statement. As for Neon Bible, all I can say is this: What happened? The production What to say, what to say. To be honest, I really did want to like this album. Although suffering production wise, I thought Funeral was an amazingly well done. It was a beautiful and lush soundscape filled to the brim with ideas. Songs would careen wildly, often fitting a few great ideas into one pop length statement. As for Neon Bible, all I can say is this: What happened? The production has been beefed up, thats for sure, but the album feels like the process that went into Funeral was reversed. From my first encounter with the band, a pre-Funeral opening spot for The Unicorns, it was clear that this was a little band trying to do big things. A ragtag group of kids making weird ELO-esque pop. With the Neon Bible however, it sounds like they wrote a bunch of intense little songs and then realized they had all this money left over to dump a bucket of instruments and effects all over it. The songs seem to begin and end without ever reall going anywhere. As a brief example I would use "Keep the Car Running." The entirety of the song feels like what would have been simply the beginning of a song on Funeral, but it never takes off. The songs all just chug along nicely with one very basic idea. But too much of this chugging, or more aptly plodding, makes for a very boring album. It sounds wonderful, but the album never really soars like Funeral did. I welcome the idea of switching up your sound, but simply doing this does not a positive review make. As a side, i find the inclusion of "No Cars Go" absolutely befuddling. The new version sounds absolutely fantastic, far surpassing the original. As much as I appreciate it, I don't understand why it was put on here, perhaps it was more fitting as a B-side. The real problem with including it is the fact that it underscores how much the rest of the album is lacking in its song construction. It puts together the wonderful new production and their more crafty form of songwriting. If only the good production and lyrical ability synched up with the rest of the band, then it would have been an absolutely amazing album.… Expand
  13. AllenM
    Mar 1, 2007
    10
    A whole new direction seperate from Funeral. I love this album.
  14. ChemaP
    Mar 1, 2007
    6
    Only an OK album, specially when compared with such a masterpiece as Funeral. It seems a bit overproduced, with too many instruments cramped into every song (from mariachi trumpets to a church organ), as if the storm of sound will serve to disguise the lack of inspiration. At its best (Intervention, No Cars Go), it doesn't even comes close to the explosion of joy and emotion that was Only an OK album, specially when compared with such a masterpiece as Funeral. It seems a bit overproduced, with too many instruments cramped into every song (from mariachi trumpets to a church organ), as if the storm of sound will serve to disguise the lack of inspiration. At its best (Intervention, No Cars Go), it doesn't even comes close to the explosion of joy and emotion that was Funeral. At its worst (Black Wave/Bad Vibrations, Ocean Of Noise), it sounds like a couple of bad covers of Pink Floyd, or a christmas carol album sung by Paul Young (never a good thing to be compared to).… Expand
  15. PeterL
    Mar 1, 2007
    10
    Better? Worst? Simply different and as good as.
  16. Mensch
    Feb 28, 2007
    8
    Funeral is an album for the ages, and gets my vote for best album of the decade, so far. I'm still listening to it at least 2 times a week after 2+ years. Neon Bible is a very good, approaching great, album. But it suffers somewhat in comparison to Funeral -- as do 99% of all albums. The album seems designed for a wider audience, which diminishes Arcade Fire's strength. For Funeral is an album for the ages, and gets my vote for best album of the decade, so far. I'm still listening to it at least 2 times a week after 2+ years. Neon Bible is a very good, approaching great, album. But it suffers somewhat in comparison to Funeral -- as do 99% of all albums. The album seems designed for a wider audience, which diminishes Arcade Fire's strength. For example, there is no "Laika" on this album -- a song that with its out-of-tune choruses is initially almost painful to listen to, but with patience reveals its depth and beauty.… Expand
  17. TylerF
    Feb 27, 2007
    8
    Not 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'.
  18. GeorgeH
    Feb 27, 2007
    7
    It's good, but nowhere near Funeral.
  19. Danny
    Feb 26, 2007
    10
    At first, I was a bit worried about how different the album sounds from Funeral, but after 15 or so listens, I have made a strong connection to each of the 11 tracks. Once again, Arcade Fire gets the job done!
  20. TylerC
    Feb 24, 2007
    4
    I 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.
  21. DanC
    Feb 23, 2007
    10
    A powerful statement on the state of the world surrounding by the hum of an organ. Not Funeral 2.0 by any means and thats a good thing. An inventive band that time will show as the first great band of the 00's.
  22. wander
    Feb 23, 2007
    10
    so great and beautiful like funeral welcome to the radiohead´s room, arcade!
  23. CarlosD
    Feb 21, 2007
    10
    Neon Bible reaffirms Arcade Fire's status as one of the most consistantly amazing bands of the last 20 years. Those expecting a Funeral clone will be disappointed though; Neon Bible takes a slower and darker approach.
  24. NeilP
    Feb 20, 2007
    10
    Beautiful
  25. raelt
    Feb 20, 2007
    6
    Quite 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
  26. ScottF
    Feb 20, 2007
    9
    It doesn't have the same twists and turns that Funeral did, but that results in a more solid and focussed feeling album.
  27. JordanC
    Feb 19, 2007
    9
    Another 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.
  28. Michael
    Feb 18, 2007
    10
    Inventive. Refreshing. Complex. Pure genuis! "Neon Bible" solidifies Arcade Fire's prominence into modern, uncomercialized music.
  29. MikeM
    Feb 18, 2007
    10
    Time will tell if AF's second LP is more timeless than Funeral, but what is for sure from listening to Neon Bible, is that this band is easily one of the best bands of the past 20 years.
  30. CaitlinS
    Feb 17, 2007
    10
    I love the arcade fire!
  31. Walabiz
    Feb 17, 2007
    10
    The Arcade Fire, I'ill never stop loving you...
  32. KyleN
    Feb 16, 2007
    10
    Truly a remarkable album that exceeded my expectations and will be there in the end for album of the year.
  33. Alex
    Feb 16, 2007
    10
    Fantastic Sophmore!
  34. MikeH
    Feb 16, 2007
    9
    Great album, not as fast, but still incredible.
  35. T.Speaker
    Feb 15, 2007
    6
    It'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.
  36. AdamT
    Feb 14, 2007
    10
    In order to completely and thouroughly appreciate Neon Bible, one has to put Funeral aside; comparisons between the two will only deter each others quality, as both are completely separate works created by the band in extremely different situations, and with completely different visions. With that said, Neon Bible, although not an easy first, second, or third listen, pays off, enormously; In order to completely and thouroughly appreciate Neon Bible, one has to put Funeral aside; comparisons between the two will only deter each others quality, as both are completely separate works created by the band in extremely different situations, and with completely different visions. With that said, Neon Bible, although not an easy first, second, or third listen, pays off, enormously; "Keep the Car Running" one of two first singles (?), is completely phenomenal, it's Neon Bibles' "(Power Out) in a sense, but so much more. Songs like "Ocean of Noise," "(Antichrist Television Blues)," represent Arcade Fire heading in a new direction, observers of the sociopoliticalreligious events taking place in the now, and what they see, they don't like. New instruments are implemented by the many- a hurdy gurdy is carried by Regine, and the church organ the band dug up works stunningly well to emphasize the grandness of the concepts Win tackles- sounding more and more epic with each turning track, the album needs a break: "Windowsill" sighs beautifully; its' eventual juxtaposition of dance drums with Wins' over-the-top melancholic lyircs brings a balance amidst drama. All 11 tracks weave and coincide well; "No Cars Go," which I personally thought was Arcade Fires' brilliance gone-bad choice of reincluding the song in the new album, proves me wrong, on the contrary, "No Cars Go" shows confidence the original version never could have, and improves the power of a million AFs' debut best. Ultimately, whether sounding like Bruce Springsteen, or indulging in sonic experimentation, Arcade Fire have made what we have expected- an album worthy to suceed Funeral- not only that, it brings the band to a new direction, opening new doors, as we see them able to write songs about more than childhood fantasies. Neon Bible is already my pick for 07's best, and it may as well stand the test of time-it's brilliant.… Expand
  37. SteveM
    Feb 13, 2007
    10
    It's not as quick to get going and suck you in as Funeral was, but as a whole, it's just as good, if not better. By combining some amazing new ideas with their old familier techniques, the Arcade Fire have created a masterpiece. It would be a huge understatement to simply say that they "avoided the sophomore slump". Too many great tracks to name here, but Intervention, My Body It's not as quick to get going and suck you in as Funeral was, but as a whole, it's just as good, if not better. By combining some amazing new ideas with their old familier techniques, the Arcade Fire have created a masterpiece. It would be a huge understatement to simply say that they "avoided the sophomore slump". Too many great tracks to name here, but Intervention, My Body is a Cage, and Windowsill rank among my favorites.… Expand
  38. MichaelF
    Feb 7, 2007
    10
    Incredible!
  39. DaveH
    Feb 6, 2007
    9
    A bit of a different direction than Funeral, but this group still makes an amazing record. Some people will call it Springsteen-like, but it's more that it's got some rock and roll tracks on it. Beautiful follow-up album.
next
Page:

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 »