A truly spectacular Album, as are all three albums so far. Their best? Well to rate Arcade fir Albums against each other is not a matter of which is better, but simply personal opinion. This though is my favourite of the three. Awesome songs include - All of them, lol. My truly stand out songs are Keep the car running, Intervention and No cars go.
Oh and one more, My body is a cage makes me weep every time. Enough said, Arcade fire are geniuses.… Collapse

Yes 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.

The album is different from Funeral, darker than Funeral, but I do not believe weaker than Funeral. The songs are still powerful, still excellent. It isn't just a bunch of songs lumped together, as is so common - this is a real album, with a certain theme binding its tracks together.

I 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.

My favorite Arcade Fire and one of my favorite (if not the favorite) albums of all time. I loved so many songs off this album and imo this is Arcade Fire at their peak.

Easily their best work. I think people hate it so much because the entire album is pretty much saying "F" religion. While the band's sound is different, Its different in a good way. I loved this album.

I 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.

Not 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.

It was always going to be impossible to follow up Funeral. Expectations on this album were probably a bit too high. It's actually quite a good album but where Funeral was fresh and vibrant, Neon Bible sounds a bit stale and jaded before it even gets going. Apparently the record was written while the band were still touring Funeral - which comes across on the record. The fact that one of the strongest tracks on it, No Cars Go, was hanging around for years illustrates this point. Still, if you take Funeral out of the equation (yes that's my 4th time mentioning it) and take this album on its own merits, it's well worth getting into and has some gems on it. The songwriting at times is a little bit pompous which takes away from the songs and the production is also a bit ott.… Expand

For a kid who grew up in a conservative evangelical home, this record speaks right to me. Heartbreaking and brilliant from the first track to the last. It's extremely difficult to rate an Arcade Fire over another, but this one definitely stands out.

My 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

i 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

Following on from a fantastic debut record is always tough work but The Arcade Fire have passed the test with Neon Bible. At times it might lack the emotion and passion that was felt on Funeral, as the band has traded that sound for a heavier indie rock sound that utilises the distorted guitar much more than on Funeral. It also sounds a little overdone at times, such as on Black Wave Bad Vibrations, which is a dark and overcrowded piece of music. However on tracks such as No Cars Go and Keep The Car Running there's an incredible amount of spirit and vibe that can only have you praising The Arcade Fire. It might not be the equivalent of Funeral, but overall it's a solid indie rock follow up.
Best tracks: Keep The Car Running, The Well And The Lighthouse, No Cars Go… Expand

Neon Bible is a joyous listen. Every song is absolutely magnificent. It was a great big step in the right direction from their first masterpiece Funeral. It's dark, perfectly written, compellingly instrumental and a beautiful voice from Win Butler. This album was my favorite album at one point. I could never stop listening to it. All In All, Neon Bible has some of my favorite songs of all time on it and its a fantastic album.… Expand

Every single song in this album is amazing, everything is done perfectly. I still cannot decide which one I like more but this album defined a period of my life, I can't even imagine how many times I've listened to it.

Because Funeral was just a complete and utter masterpiece, there is no way Arcade Fire can top their debut. It is said true here as it is not up to snuff with Funeral. Instead, they give a completely different sophomore effort. Instead of having a collection of atmospheric, haunting and heart felt songs from Funeral, they give a straightforward effort with a mixture of songs from the jangly pop jives, the dark but grandiose and to the absolute energetic. It is a definite listen and an easy one at that as it is Arcade Fire's easily listen able but also a darker, more frontal experience.… Expand

Another great album from this wonderful band.

Absolutely beautiful and heart wrenching. The Arcade Fire manages to continue to get better with time, and Neon Bible is only the beginning I'm sure.

But FUNERAL is better....but this is great album with some great songs:intervention,no cars go,windowsill.

Probably one of the best albums ever. A huge variation of different Instruments, including a organ, make their music powerful and captivating. Moreover with "My Body is a cage" they wrote one of the most powerful and most beautiful songs ever.

I think it very good, with lovely tunes and songs that stick to your head for days

This album has some of the best lyrics ever written. What passionate poetry, at its best!

The intro Black Mirror and title track are the only bright spots on this album, the rest is forgettable blackness.

Completely over-rated. Some original sounds but clumsy adolescent lyrics which are embarrassing to listen to.

Well, 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 (?).

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.

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.

Way better than funeral

It is so unexpected, so willing to connect with you, so unbelievably gorgeous, that you're blown away.

Phenomenal. Every song is a delicate masterpiece---they would fail with most other bands, but Butler's dark, anguished vocals along with a pitch-perfect instrumental balance make them memorable. "Keep the Car Running" may be the track of the century. It's the song equivalent of vanilla ice cream...so simple, yet so refreshingly rewarding. "Windowsill," "Intervention," and "No Cars Go" are also standouts, but they are still just the highlights of a mighty, mighty album--better than "Funeral" and every other album of 2007!… Expand

I rarely give albums 10/10 but this one is truely worth it, the songs are all big, ambitious and loud, absolutely amazing

Masterpiece, one of the best in decade and in my opinion even better than Funeral. I enjoy every single piece of it.

you had me worried, so worried that things would burst, but they didn't.

Amazing follow-up.

I'm really surprised about some of the reviews here. They only compare it to Funeral, which although was the better album, Neon Bible comes only just short of it. With their grand compositions coming through full throttle, the Arcade Fire led by Win Butler shines. "Intervention" is as dramatic and powerful a song as anything you'll hear this year, while my favorite song "Keep The Car Running" blends an almost folky sound with the early work of their idol, Bruce. 2nd best album of 2007 (Only after MIA's Kala)… Expand

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.

I think in some ways it's even better than Funeral. And that's a lot to say.

Straddling 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.

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.

stupid stupid stupid. vacuous social commentary. even worse production. funeral had a few good moments; this has fewer.

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.

Ive 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.....

Not bad but not that great.

Best album of 2007, a perfect collection.

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

best of 2007 and even better than funeral. yes, that apparently is possible.

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.

enjoyable. 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.

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.

Fantastic and fresh. Best of the year.

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

Highly recommended.

If you don't think this album is perfect then take every piece of music you have and burn it because you obviously don't like music. Here's a better suggestion though, so you don't have to burn all your good music. Take this album and listen to ONLY it for a straight week. If you don't get it, you never will. Black Wave has to be the best NEW song I've heard in 10 years. This album reminds me of a soundtrack to a much darker Jim Henson Productions movie and that makes it old and new to me. Over-hyped? Only if you were that newbie Indie kid that latched on and now they are getting too big for your Indie ears. Well, guess what, memorable, great music of this level is only generated every decade or so and it's bound to break out of its indie roots. And to those older folks that quibble over which song of Bob Dylan's was the best, don't over-analyze this album. Funeral was perfect and Neon Bible is too. I am almost expecting their third release to be just as quality, if not perfect as well. WOOT. Buy this album.… Expand

It hits the spot right on. Great albume and shows that this band has lots going for it.

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.

excelent

After 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.

Funeral is one of my fav records of the recent years and a lot of hype surrounded this and it kinda delivers and kinda doesnt. the first album i thought was very well balanced around a centerpiece, whereas this is sonically going for one sound. certain misteps creep through mainly in the production but the songs are still solid. the first 4 trax are perfectly aligned and build on each other and then comes 'black wave/bad vibrations', which does not build on whats already been heard. the next songs go everywhere and even the themes get a little repetitive. 'no cars go' is a great song between some really not so good tracks and the finisher kinda sums up the album with a haunting sound making me wish some other songs were this grand.… Expand

Solid descibes it best; over-hyped - yes; boring - no

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

This is nothing less than perfect and simply the best record out this year. It gushes with passion that will knock you sideways and leave you grasping for more- very rare in the rock world these days. I have not heard anything like it since the Blue Nile emerged.

What can be further stated concerning the exceptional brilliance behind Arcade Fire

the most over rated band in years

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.

Read the reviews and hype about this ablum. So I bought it..... And WOW!!! I have never heard anything more emotional in my life before! Every song is so well thought out, Perfect 10!!! I am now an Arcade Fire FAN!!

This album rewards the music fan who is interested in originality and a big art-rock sound. It just keeps growing on me -- I listened to it twice before bumping it up to a rating of 8, then it was up to a 9, and every time I've listened since, I find more musicality and a deeper groove to these unusual tracks.

The disc is aging like a good wine. Not only does this band deserve the hype, it should be a requirement for any music fan to see them live once in thier life. Amazing LP.

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

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.

I 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.

It 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.

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.

If you can't understand why this album is amazing, give up on life and buy every boy-band album you can find.

It's no Funeral, but Neon Bible is a stand alone masterpiece in it's own right. Perfect in every way, it may just take a few listens, because of how differently the Arcade Fire are trying to sonically get their message across (at least compared to Funeral). There's not one poor quality track on the entire CD, even the "duds" are better than a lot of key tracks on other discs released this year. Get this Album.… Expand

Amazing album, one of the best records i have ever heard!

This album's definitely a grower. It might not be as instantly genius as their debut, but it's still a stellar set of songs, with a lot of fantastic moments that other rock bands could never create. I don't really understand all the bitching about this one.

Certainly not better than Funeral (how could it?), but it has its moments.

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.

Honestly, I think this is the best album released this year. Pretty freaking awesome. I just really like it in every way. Catchy, yet experimental tunes.

Best album of 2007 so far. It's the effing sex. Are we allowed to say fuck on here? Well anyhoo, it's amazing. I love the epic sound to all of their songs.

Matthew C are you a music critic or just a musician? Your review is inspirational. You have clearly done your research on this album. Its rare to see a review that speaks directly to the heart, but your review is the best I have ever seen. Your review has inspired me to become a journalist and I know that I can succeed if I develop one tenth of the literary and critical analysis skills you posess. Hats off to you. There is one thing I disagree with in the opening paragraph of your review though. "Boo" is a bit harsh. Otherwise brilliant stuff.… Expand

Intervention 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.

Boo

By God this is brilliant. Funeral was great (Power Out, anyone?) but lacked consistency. On here, just about every song is a complete winner. The new version of No Cars Go, Keep the Car Running, Antichrist Television Blues... so many reasons to love this album.

Loved 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.

There are 5 albums on this earth that I consider to be the only existing masterworks. Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks", The Beatles "abby Road", Miles Davis " Kind of Blue", Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks", and.... THE ARCADE FIRE'S ***NEON BIBLE***

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.

I am going to say that as far as I'm concerned Arcade Fire are the best band I have heard since I discovered REM in the mid 80's. Funeral was possibly my favourite album of all time, and when I first heard Neon Bible I liked it, but it was an 8/10 at best. Since then I have listened to it continuosly (almost every day) for over a month, and it has moved up to a 9, and now a definite 10. This album just keeps getting better and better with every listen, and that is the true sign of a classic album. I'm even debating now whether I might actually end up putting it ahead of Funeral. Unbelievable! I feel sorry for those people who gave this album a couple of listens and wrote it off as a disappointment. Whack on some headphones, turn the volume up and let this cracker of an album reveal it's charms. It will be well worth your while.… Expand

A 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".

Hypnotic melodies, wall of sound, the perfect soundtrack for springtime...

I think that AF have gone one step further than "Funeral" with this album. I have to say that I didn't expect it, but that's what I believe. Tracks 1,2 & 4 sound incredible and the rest are all great songs. I'd doubt whether I'll hear a more likeable album this year.

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.

BEST album of the year by far! Neon Bible has been in my car for over 1 month straight and is the only thing I have listened to! It will probably be there for another month or two! Only gets better with repeated listens!

The best album of last 5 years. Moving, deep and beautiful.

Great music best album. I just love The Arcade Fire. The sounds really comes alive. I love the loudness off the instruments and the music. I thought The Killers Sam's Town was good but i think i like The Arcade Fire better. 'Intervention' w the church organ playing and the loudness of sound. And i loved how they recorded the album in an old abandoned church. There promotion video is so special. It's like it's a showcase on a stage from the 1880s. Last thing is The Arcade Fire Neon Bible is UNIQUE. THE MUSIC IS UNIQUE. LOVE THEM… Expand

Sounds like Springsteen filling in as a vocalist with Interpol or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah as backup- brilliant. I prefer this album over Funeral - more stripped down - less cacophony!

Four listens in, I can't get into it. I'm not a fan of crystal-clear radio pop, but I just can't get into the production. I think The Arcade Fire had the element of surprise when they released the shockingly mournful "Funeral". For me, the songwriting and thematic elements don't quite match up, and sometimes fall flat. This album has some high moments, and some lows. I can see the appeal, but this album is actually far less accessible than "Funeral" and just can't get on board. Rating: 7.3/10.0… Expand

The unpredictable moods and styles, lots of music instruments and vocal style are well differentiated them from other indy bands.