Like most people under the age of thirty with ears, I’ve been fawning over the Arcade Fire ever since their debut album, “Funeral.” I’m not much for musical hype, but I considered “Funeral” to be the most stirring album I’d heard in years. They managed to conceive a tightly cohesive concept album using a variety of instruments (including the oft-maligned accordion and hurdygurdy), and crafting songs about various subjects ranging from “exile due to military dictatorship” to “bad weather”. The Arcade Fire absolutely smashed the music scene with a stellar first album, and an also excellent EP. Wild success at the outset, however, tends to prove the downfall of many a promising band.
Not so with the Arcade Fire: “Neon Bible” is a stunning album, and in many ways stands superior to its predecessor.
