The Montreal band skyrocketed to fame with Funeral through the melodic beats of successful singles like “Rebellion (Lies)” and “Wake Up”. Funeral showed the Arcade Fire were capable of writing meaningful and emotional lyrics combined with haunting melodies.
One thing that I admire about the Arcade Fire in both Funeral and Neon Bible is the use of unconventional instruments like the xylophone, accordion and cello. These instruments, often overlooked by bands, allow the Arcade Fire to present a unique tone and style that listeners easily attribute to the band.
The first track on this a
lbum, which is also the first single, “Black Mirror” has a sullen beat with ominous vocals that bleed into a chant of the song’s title. The track then picks up pace from a whisper vocal to almost a yell, a growth and versatility both in lyrics and melody which remind me why Arcade Fire is so talented.The more I listen to Neon Bible, the more I appreciate the quality of this album. The fast-paced track, “Keep the Car Running”, is reminiscent of the Jam’s “A Town Called Malice”, with an upbeat melody that makes you want to dance along. Other songs, like “Intervention”, deal with deeper lyrical meanings, such as spiritual struggles.
Unfortunately, the title track leaves something to be desired. “Neon Bible” comes across as a glorified chant rather than a song. I was disappointed to find the title track does not live up to the standard of quality that the album itself had set.
Make no mistake: Arcade Fire is a tremendously talented band. They deserve the acclaim they have received since the release of Funeral and will surely gain even more with the release of this album. Time Magazine deemed the Arcade Fire Canada’s Most Intriguing Band, and they continue to live up to this title.
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The Arcade Fire Website
Arcade Fire Performing Intervention
Arcade Fire Performing Keep the Car Running on Saturday Night Live
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