Neon Bible
Merge
In 2005, without much fanfare, Montreal’s Arcade Fire released the
acclaimed Funeral, a debut so celebratory and simultaneously gothic, it
should have been titled The Black Parade. Two years later, a world of hype
rides on their indie-sized shoulders but the reluctant superstars defiantly
keep the faith with Neon Bible, a sophomore release that serves as singular
proof to life after Funeral. From the ominous opening track “Black Mirror” to
the devout “My Body Is a Cage,” the band recreates the haunting, ubiquitous
sound of the hollow church the album was recorded in. And while in the past
many have solely attributed Arcade Fire’s exuberant art-rock to the Davids’
(Bowie and Byrne) respective influences, this record commendably broadens
the palette borrowing from the zany angularity of The B-52’s (“Black
Wave/Bad Vibrations”), the poetic misery of Nick Cave (“Ocean of Noise”) or,
yes, even the hoarse protest of Bruce Springsteen (“Antichrist Television
Blues”). Toward the end of Neon Bible, during a reworked version of its “No
Cars Go” (which initially appeared on the band’s debut EP), singer Win
Butler yelps, “Let’s go,” but warns a few seconds later, “Don’t know where
we’re going.” Nevertheless, the journey’s worthwhile even when it sounds as
menacing as this. Arye Dworken
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