2008 Woodie Awards
Neon Bible makes Arcade Fire fans glow
Richard Hughes '09
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
2007 is still young, yet the buzz in the music world is swarming around the March 6 release from The Arcade Fire that is said to be a shoe-in on critics' best of the year lists. Entitled "Neon Bible", it is the Montreal band's second full album release following 2004's brilliant "Funeral". They will tour following the release, including a Cinco de Mayo stop at the Tower Theatre.
Throughout the album, the band plays a fine line between euphoric splashes of sound and moments that wade into a murky eeriness. The listener sometimes cannot not decipher between the two. This risky mesh is triumphant, and some of the more haunting songs turn out beautifully in the context of all the colors that make up the album.
The first single, "Black Mirror", is built around crashing pianos and spooky background noise before finally wincing into an orchestrated chorus. It is not your ordinary pop song. "Antichrist Television Blues" is Bruce Springsteen circa 1975, except that the E Street Band sound like they are playing from outer space. "I don't want to work at a deli downtown," sings lead guitarist and songwriter Win Butler in a Boss-like tone on this "life on the fringe" song.
There is a buildup throughout the album, including the crucial songs "The Well and the Lighthouse", "Intervention", and "Keep the Car Running". All of them play in to each other while still forming a musical landscape of their own. What is really special is that they sound purposeful in the order that they are placed. The songs have their own sort of special evolution, but the bigger picture is much more important to the band.
A breath of fresh air is found on the ninth track, "Windowsill". A light picking pattern rests the eardrums and the abundance of instruments is stripped away before finally chiming in again at the end, on top of what has been played. Butler and his wife, Regine Chassagne, who is also a member of the band, sing the penultimate song, "No Cars Go". This may be the catchiest song, and the chants of "hey" are sure to be a crowd pleaser when they play it live. The album then gives the fitting closer it deserves in "My Body is a Cage". The almost soulful tune gives one final burst of energy and one more amazing musical moment after a string of all-too-plentiful ones.
The band's fan-base includes the likes of Bono, David Bowie, and a handful of indie kids that were fortunate enough to hear "Funeral". "Neon Bible" will further plant the seeds of attracting more fans that will hear this album. The album has leaked, and if you want to hear it, you probably can have it sent to you over the Internet from the bearded kid that sits in the back of your English class (thanks Dan), but this great album should be experienced in its physical form, complete with great artwork and extensive booklet. The members who made this should also be supported in their valiant efforts in creating an album that needs to be listened to extensively to get anything out of it. The sound may be large, but the beauty is subtle.
Throughout the album, the band plays a fine line between euphoric splashes of sound and moments that wade into a murky eeriness. The listener sometimes cannot not decipher between the two. This risky mesh is triumphant, and some of the more haunting songs turn out beautifully in the context of all the colors that make up the album.
The first single, "Black Mirror", is built around crashing pianos and spooky background noise before finally wincing into an orchestrated chorus. It is not your ordinary pop song. "Antichrist Television Blues" is Bruce Springsteen circa 1975, except that the E Street Band sound like they are playing from outer space. "I don't want to work at a deli downtown," sings lead guitarist and songwriter Win Butler in a Boss-like tone on this "life on the fringe" song.
There is a buildup throughout the album, including the crucial songs "The Well and the Lighthouse", "Intervention", and "Keep the Car Running". All of them play in to each other while still forming a musical landscape of their own. What is really special is that they sound purposeful in the order that they are placed. The songs have their own sort of special evolution, but the bigger picture is much more important to the band.
A breath of fresh air is found on the ninth track, "Windowsill". A light picking pattern rests the eardrums and the abundance of instruments is stripped away before finally chiming in again at the end, on top of what has been played. Butler and his wife, Regine Chassagne, who is also a member of the band, sing the penultimate song, "No Cars Go". This may be the catchiest song, and the chants of "hey" are sure to be a crowd pleaser when they play it live. The album then gives the fitting closer it deserves in "My Body is a Cage". The almost soulful tune gives one final burst of energy and one more amazing musical moment after a string of all-too-plentiful ones.
The band's fan-base includes the likes of Bono, David Bowie, and a handful of indie kids that were fortunate enough to hear "Funeral". "Neon Bible" will further plant the seeds of attracting more fans that will hear this album. The album has leaked, and if you want to hear it, you probably can have it sent to you over the Internet from the bearded kid that sits in the back of your English class (thanks Dan), but this great album should be experienced in its physical form, complete with great artwork and extensive booklet. The members who made this should also be supported in their valiant efforts in creating an album that needs to be listened to extensively to get anything out of it. The sound may be large, but the beauty is subtle.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Win
posted 2/21/07 @ 11:13 AM EST
hah.
the lyric is "I don't wanna work in a building downtown", not deli...
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