Arcade Fire Neon Bible 2007 Repost

Arcade Fire's Neon Bible: A Revisit of the 2007 Indie Rock Classic

Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band that rose to fame with their debut album Funeral in 2004. The album was critically acclaimed for its emotional and anthemic songs that dealt with themes of death, love, and hope. Funeral was also a commercial success, selling over two million copies worldwide and earning the band a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album.

In 2007, Arcade Fire released their second album, Neon Bible, which was also met with positive reviews and high sales. Neon Bible was recorded mostly at a church that the band bought and renovated in Farnham, Quebec. The album featured a more expansive and orchestral sound than Funeral, incorporating instruments such as pipe organ, harp, accordion, and military choir. The album also reflected the band's political and social concerns, addressing topics such as war, religion, media, and consumerism.

Neon Bible spawned four singles: \"Black Mirror\", \"Keep the Car Running\", \"Intervention\", and \"No Cars Go\". The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart in the US and number one on the Canadian Albums Chart. It also won the 2008 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year and was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

Neon Bible is widely regarded as one of the best albums of the 2000s and one of the most influential indie rock albums of all time. It has been praised for its ambitious and cohesive vision, its lyrical depth and relevance, and its musical diversity and sophistication. It has also been ranked among the greatest albums of all time by publications such as Rolling Stone, NME, Pitchfork, and The Guardian.

In this article, we will revisit Neon Bible and explore its themes, influences, production, reception, and legacy. We will also discuss why it is still relevant and worth listening to today.

One of the most striking aspects of Neon Bible is its use of religious imagery and symbolism. The album's title itself refers to a fictional book of scripture that appears in John Kennedy Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces. The book is a parody of fundamentalist Christianity, containing absurd and contradictory teachings that are used to manipulate and exploit its followers. Arcade Fire borrows this concept to critique the role of religion in modern society, especially in relation to war, politics, and media. For example, on \"Intervention\", Win Butler sings from the perspective of a soldier who questions his faith and his mission, while a church organ and a choir create a dramatic contrast between the sacred and the profane. On \"Neon Bible\", he denounces the false prophets and idols that dominate the culture, while on \"My Body Is a Cage\", he laments his spiritual imprisonment and longs for liberation.

Another theme that runs through Neon Bible is the alienation and anxiety caused by the mass media and consumerism. The album reflects the band's ambivalent relationship with fame and success, as well as their distrust of the entertainment industry and its influence on society. On \"Black Mirror\", Win Butler sings about the dark side of technology and how it distorts reality and creates illusions. On \" (Antichrist Television Blues)\", he portrays a father who exploits his daughter's musical talent for fame and money, while invoking the names of American idols like Joe Simpson and Bruce Springsteen. On \"Windowsill\", he expresses his desire to escape from the noise and chaos of the modern world, rejecting its values and institutions.

Neon Bible also showcases Arcade Fire's musical versatility and creativity, as they experiment with different genres and styles. The album draws inspiration from various sources, such as 60s girl groups, 70s glam rock, 80s synth-pop, gospel music, folk music, and classical music. The band also incorporates diverse instruments, such as pipe organ, hurdy-gurdy, mandolin, accordion, celesta, and military drums. The result is a rich and eclectic sound that matches the album's thematic scope and emotional intensity. ec8f644aee