Thank God-Arcade Fire's sound is still fierce, fresh and monumental. Although the band's sophomore release, Neon Bible, can't quite emulate its sensational debut album, Funeral, it comes pretty close.
Arcade Fire continues to carve out its own little niche in the ever-evolving indie music scene. Their combination of (ahem) guitars, drums, bass, organ, violin, viola, double bass, xylophone, keyboard, French horn, hurdy-gurdy, accordion and harp creates such a pleasing reverberation inside of your head, you really just don't know what to do with yourself. A suggestion: nod head, tap foot, repeat.
Looking deeper, the record introduces consistent themes and motifs just like Funeral. Yet unlike the group's debut, which dealt primarily with "The Neighborhood," Neon Bible engulfs much grander ideas. With images of bibles and churches, oceans and black waves, darkness and light, lead singer Win Butler urges you to question the fate of our society by constantly addressing its glaring flaws. He asks, "MTV, what have you done to me?" on "Windowsill," and warns, "Not much chance for survival/If the Neon Bible is right," on the title track. Moreover, it shouldn't surprise anyone that this Canadian is a huge Orwell fan.
Their ability to produce original tracks with driving rhythms and a unique, yet accessible style could make this octet indie rock's next mainstay. And if they keep this up, the best from Arcade Fire may be yet to come.
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