When Montreal's Arcade Fire released Funeral in 2004, it received the kind of critical and commercial acclaim that most bands spend their entire careers trying to attain. Within a year the group was headlining major festivals and sharing the stage with U2 and New York City's "two Davids" (Bowie and Byrne), all the while amassing a devoted following that descended upon shows like sinners at a tent revival, engaging in the kind of artist appreciation that can easily turn to a false sense of ownership. On their alternately wrecked and defiant follow-up, Neon Bible, one can sense a bit of a Wall being erected (Win Butler's Roger Waters/Bruce Springsteen/Garrison Keillor-style vocal delivery notwithstanding) around the group. If Funeral was the goodbye kiss on the coffin of youth, then Bible is the bitter pint (or pints) after a long day's work. The brooding opener, "Black Mirror," with its sinister "Suffragette City"-inspired groove and murky refrain of "Mirror, Mirror on the wall/Show me where them bombs will fall," sets an immediate world-weary tone that permeates that majority of Neon Bible's Technicolor pages. As expected, those sentiments are amplified with all of the majestic and overwrought power that has divided listeners since the group's ascension to indie rock royalty, but despite a tendency toward midtempo balladry and post-fame cynicism, they're anything but dull. It's the triumphant orchestral remake of live staple "No Cars Go" and the infectious "Keep the Car Running" -- the latter sounds like a 21st century update of John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band's "On the Dark Side" -- that will most appeal to Funeral fans, and when the bottom drops out a minute and a half into the pipe organ-led "Intervention" and Butler wails "Who's gonna reset the bone," it's hard not get caught up in all of the dystopian fervor. "Black Wave/Bad Vibrations" and "The Well and the Lighthouse" continue the band's explorations into progressive song structures and lush mini-suites, the thunder-filled "Ocean of Noise" is reminiscent of Bossanova-era Pixies, and the stark (at first) closer "My Body Is a Cage" straddles the sawhorse of earnest desperation and classic ock & roll self-absorption so effortlessly that it demands to be either turned off or all the way up. Neon Bible takes a few spins to digest properly, and like all rich foods (orchestra, harps, and gospel choirs abound), it's as decadent as it is tasty -- theatricality has never been a practice that the collective has shied away from -- but there's no denying the Arcade Fire's singular vision, even when it blurs a little.
One of my two Arcade Fire show buddies ditched me last-minute, so I had to call someone else, who happened to be really sick, and told her if she'd like to go we could be by to get her in ten minutes.I bought tickets for the night of my school's prom on purpose, so I could know I was having a more amazing time than everyone there. The opener was Electrelane, whom I remember deleting from my iTu...
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Recently, the lads at Duck and Cover reviewed Arcade Fire's new album, Neon Bible. Have a listen, then check out the review. Thanks! D&C
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There's something about this album. I know all of the reviews have said how incredibly great it is from the music to the lyrics, it's just near-perfect. I came to the Arcade Fire bandwagon a little late in the hype around "Funeral". I got tickets to their show here in SF for a friend who loved that album and so I went with her to see what this whole thing was about. The only thing I could think...
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I stay out of the loop where modern rock is concerned, and when I buy something new it's usually because I've done so on a whim; maybe I've read something about the artist, or the cover intrigues me, or I like the title or, as in this case, I heard it being played at my favorite record store. There I was in the stacks, looking for something to buy, and it suddenly occurred to me that what I was...
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My vote for Album of the Year, so far, is Arcade Fire's 'Neon Bible.' It has superseeded my expectations of a second album, and I cannot wait to hear these songs live! If you're an Arcade Fire fan and have not yet purchased this album, go out and buy it! You won't regret it.
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There's an article in circulation from Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band, in which he talks about how what has long been called "indie rock" is now entering the mainstream. It's more than a little filled with horse puckey, in my opinion (Radiohead is "poppy stuff"?), but worth reading as food for thought, and as an example of what a voice in the mainstream press (it's being syndicated by Re...
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Is it just me, or does the new Arcade Fire . . . kinda suck? Neon Bible is definitely better than the dreadful new Stooges album or the merely boring new Shins album, but comes nowhere close to Funeral. I'm not one to complain simply when a band that has made a record that I liked changes their sound on a subsequent record. So I'm not disappointed in Neon Bible because it sounds less anthemic t...
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/arts/music/05choi.html(An article in the New York Times featuring new CD's, sample video.)http://www.arcadefire.com/flash.html(The website for Arcade Fire.)Happy Monday!
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[edit] with pure luck i was browsing around in my local record store and to my astonishment they had they new arcade fire album out... the one that's supposed to come out on tuesday... 4 days early!!!! i couldn't be more stoked cause this album fucking rules... i've only listened to half of it thus far but it's amazing... gahhhhhh... i am so happy... this totally makes up for my missing out on ...
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*I'm Sorry You Suck; I Hoped It Wasn't So* Somewhat unusually, I think Springsteen's best album is _Darkness on the Edge of Town_. Nobody really cites that one as their favorite, but _Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J._ was an unpolished, almost adolescent crotch-rocket of an album; _Born to Run_ is a classic, an outstanding work, but a tad too slick alongside its 1978 successor. What makes _Dark...
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NME is giving readers a free test drive of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible for a whole week. The entire album is streamed online to your listening delight.more on hitchaser.com.
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Arcade Fire are going to be the musical guests on SNL this Saturday. Wohoo!for more: hitchaser.com
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Photo courtesy of Hearsay (http://hearsay.alphaquam.com/) where you can find the entire live recording of Arcade Fire at Judson Memorial Church, NYC, 2.16.07. Neon Bible:I cannot wait for this album to come out. Its the best album I have heard in quite some time, and I was pretty infatuated with Funeral. This one just seems to build on the first album so much and still have AF's originality. ...
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(more on hitchaser.com)
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I really can't figure it out and I find it to be a true "What the Fuck?" Why would Arcade Fire not play LA? I know they are playing Coachella but I don't want to see them in such a massive setting. I was running on the assumption I would get to see them at The Wintern or Fonda but they completely bypassed my city and its not like I live in Toledo. Well this calls for drastic measures and a road...
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Just a quickie to let you know the exciting news that ARCADE FIRE will be releasing a documentary video of the making and touring of their seminal album, Neon Bible. It's the first ever DVD they've released of their live performances and they claim it will give an intimate view of this most private of bands. It [...]
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Cate Blanchett is amazing in just about everything she plays and apparently had to convince Brad Pitt into doing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button . I'm definitely intrigued by the premise of the film and David Fincher at the helm, who wouldn't be? Not to mention I've seen Arcade Fire's "My Body Is A Cage" being fittingly applied in a teaser for the film ad nauseam over the last week.. st...
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This is a new project released by Arcade Fire, seven parts that are up for viewing for a limited time.... take the time its worth it! Some excellent footage and filming... toggle it full screen for best effect!
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This is one of those instances when images of a film, in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and the sounds and lyrics of a song, this being "My Body is a Cage" by Arcade Fire link together in a near perfect blend of artistic synchonicity. I hope that the band allows this song to be played in the film, even if it's during the credits, My Body is a Cage appears to fit with the themes in Benjami...
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Is it just me, or does the new Arcade Fire . . . kinda suck? Neon Bible is definitely better than the dreadful new Stooges album or the merely boring new Shins album, but comes nowhere close to Funeral. I'm not one to complain simply when a band that has made a record that I liked changes their sound on a subsequent record. So I'm not disappointed in Neon Bible because it sounds less anthemic t...
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*Get your pre-orders here!*__"Support great independent music by buying through Insound, a great independent online retailer. A small portion of the sales through these links will go towards supporting this very site as well. All orders will ship on or near the March 6th Release date"__ (Via "Us Kids Know":http://www.arcadefire.net/)"Regular CD($13.99)":http://search.insound.com/search/showrele...
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/arts/music/05choi.html(An article in the New York Times featuring new CD's, sample video.)http://www.arcadefire.com/flash.html(The website for Arcade Fire.)Happy Monday!
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In case you needed another reason to love Arcade Fire: they have proven that an orchestral septet can successfully perform in an elevator.To see the full-length version of this film, please visit http://www.blogotheque.net/article.php3?id_article=2868(This post is dedicated to Bartleby, for without him, I may never have discovered the wondrous world of La Blogotheque)
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There's something about this album. I know all of the reviews have said how incredibly great it is from the music to the lyrics, it's just near-perfect. I came to the Arcade Fire bandwagon a little late in the hype around "Funeral". I got tickets to their show here in SF for a friend who loved that album and so I went with her to see what this whole thing was about. The only thing I could think...
More >
photo source unknownNYC Arcade Fire fans, you are in for it! "Click here":http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003524747 to get the 411 on Arcade Fire's extended church gig, Feb 13-17Montreal folks, you get dates some too....Feb 6-10
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Just saw this on Pitchforkmedia's Forkcast. Look who's cheering in the background there.
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There's an article in circulation from Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band, in which he talks about how what has long been called "indie rock" is now entering the mainstream. It's more than a little filled with horse puckey, in my opinion (Radiohead is "poppy stuff"?), but worth reading as food for thought, and as an example of what a voice in the mainstream press (it's being syndicated by Re...
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So its been 4 weeks since Neon Bible debuted at #2 on the billboard charts, and its now at #44. In contrast, John Mayer's album is a Gold record and has been on the charts for 20 some weeks, is at #42, and also debuted as #2.Anyone else think that this is a sign? That a really great indie-rock band, from an independent label, from canada, can debut at #2? There was hype, but that hype was deser...
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I am loving Black Mirror! Well, I saw the tracklisting for Neon Bible on Pirtchfork yesterday. Two of them are already familiar with us. Intervention and No Cars Go. Intervention is a great song which I was fell in love with when I listened to it for the very first time from a live footage. Probabaly my fave Arcade Fire tune, I can tell. And No Cars Go is one of my faves in the EP. A bit surpri...
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(more on hitchaser.com)
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Black Mirror |
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| 2 Keep the Car Running |
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| 3 Neon Bible |
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| 4 Intervention |
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| 5 Black Wave/Bad Vibrations |
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| 6 Ocean of Noise |
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| 7 The Well and the Lighthouse |
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| 8 (Antichrist Television Blues) |
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| 9 Windowsill |
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| 10 No Cars Go |
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| 11 My Body Is a Cage |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Neon Bible")
