I only recently got into The Arcade Fire, I heard Funeral when it came out and I really liked it, but then I got my own copy and I wasn't really in the mood for it, so it got dismissed as a bit too happy happy joy joy for me (I think I really wanted to listen to something a bit more epic at that point in time). Then I put it on the other night and I really enjoyed it (must have been in the right frame of mind), so I was quite excited to get a copy of Neon Bible.
I got it the other day, and I listened to it through about 4 times. And I listened to it again. I didn't like it at all at first, it's growing on me, but some of it is rubbish.
Yes, I realise I am pretty down on almost everything all the time anyway, but so far I'm not convinced that it's anything special compared to what they've shown themselves capable of. I don't want to piss on anyone's parade, because I know this album's been long-awaited and highly anticipated, and they're a good band, for sure. I'm probably not well placed to give this a glowing review anyway, seeing as I'm not a dedicated fan. Maybe I just don't get it, which I'd be happy to accept. So kids, what do you all think?
My over-riding impression is that throughout the album it sounds like they're trying to be someone else. There are hints of Pulp, TV on The Radio, The Killers new stuff (and therefore U2
) maybe even some Tom Vek... I don't know, placing all the influences is beyond me right now.
(I've made some of this small because it's just me gibbering and probably of only minimal interest)
The opening track "Black Mirror" is pretty cool, but it's plagued by sub-Pulp minor-key melodic interludes that (IMO) destroy the flow, and not in a particularly good way.
Then we move on to "Keep The Car Running", a single apaprently, and it sounds like a one of the lamer songs off The Killer's new album coupled with some U2 or something. Still nods heavily to Pulp, but without any of Jarvis's storytelling skills.
The title track is very pretty, has a lullaby-esque feel to it, slow, floaty, yeah this one's pretty good. So I think "Yay, it was just a blip, the album's warming up, it's a carefully crafted piece, just like their artwork it's going to bear serious focus"
Next up is "Intervention", opens witha very alluring huge pipe organ noise, and actually has some quite satisfactory lyrics, but the singing is a bit twee, the vocal melody is quite uninspired la,laaa,la-la Not too bad though, nice backing vocals, sweet tune.
Black Wave Black Vibration follows, and it's my favourite track on the album at the moment, it sounds big, it's densely produced, lush, exactly what I want from them
It marks a turning point in the album, really towards the more epic sounds.
The next track is Ocean of Noise and it's just a bit overbloated for my liking, lots of nice strings but his singing doesn't really do it for me here. Which is a shame because the piano's good. Maybe I just don't like the way it's mixed. I can't put my finger on it exactly.
The Well and The Lighthouse, comes on and it's like Pulp, again. Except that his voice is even more annoying now. His delivery is starting to get on my tits at this point
(Antichrist Television Blues) is good, but the over-riding impression I get is "OMFG, it's just like Pulp" again! There are some guitar hooks in there that are pretty much lifted straight out of His'n'Hers.
There's some more tracks, they're ok, I can't be bothered to moan about them anymore.
Special mention goes to "No Cars Go" because it's the most upbeat tune on the album, it sounds somehow like The Arcade Fire meets TV on The Radio meets a massive choir, it has something very "Return to Cookie Mountain" going on, just with even more layers of voices. I like it a lot. A little bit OTT, maybe, but hey, that's what they do, isn't it?
The album's definitely a grower, but I'm not 100% convinced. Maybe another few goes round will do it... or maybe not....
I've just realised I'm not giving anyone any insight into the album, just complaining that I don't think it's as good at the last one, which I am superb at
I got it the other day, and I listened to it through about 4 times. And I listened to it again. I didn't like it at all at first, it's growing on me, but some of it is rubbish.
Yes, I realise I am pretty down on almost everything all the time anyway, but so far I'm not convinced that it's anything special compared to what they've shown themselves capable of. I don't want to piss on anyone's parade, because I know this album's been long-awaited and highly anticipated, and they're a good band, for sure. I'm probably not well placed to give this a glowing review anyway, seeing as I'm not a dedicated fan. Maybe I just don't get it, which I'd be happy to accept. So kids, what do you all think?
My over-riding impression is that throughout the album it sounds like they're trying to be someone else. There are hints of Pulp, TV on The Radio, The Killers new stuff (and therefore U2
) maybe even some Tom Vek... I don't know, placing all the influences is beyond me right now. (I've made some of this small because it's just me gibbering and probably of only minimal interest)
The opening track "Black Mirror" is pretty cool, but it's plagued by sub-Pulp minor-key melodic interludes that (IMO) destroy the flow, and not in a particularly good way.
Then we move on to "Keep The Car Running", a single apaprently, and it sounds like a one of the lamer songs off The Killer's new album coupled with some U2 or something. Still nods heavily to Pulp, but without any of Jarvis's storytelling skills.
The title track is very pretty, has a lullaby-esque feel to it, slow, floaty, yeah this one's pretty good. So I think "Yay, it was just a blip, the album's warming up, it's a carefully crafted piece, just like their artwork it's going to bear serious focus"
Next up is "Intervention", opens witha very alluring huge pipe organ noise, and actually has some quite satisfactory lyrics, but the singing is a bit twee, the vocal melody is quite uninspired la,laaa,la-la
Not too bad though, nice backing vocals, sweet tune.Black Wave Black Vibration follows, and it's my favourite track on the album at the moment, it sounds big, it's densely produced, lush, exactly what I want from them
It marks a turning point in the album, really towards the more epic sounds.
The next track is Ocean of Noise and it's just a bit overbloated for my liking, lots of nice strings but his singing doesn't really do it for me here. Which is a shame because the piano's good. Maybe I just don't like the way it's mixed. I can't put my finger on it exactly.
The Well and The Lighthouse, comes on and it's like Pulp, again. Except that his voice is even more annoying now. His delivery is starting to get on my tits at this point
(Antichrist Television Blues) is good, but the over-riding impression I get is "OMFG, it's just like Pulp" again! There are some guitar hooks in there that are pretty much lifted straight out of His'n'Hers.
There's some more tracks, they're ok, I can't be bothered to moan about them anymore.
Special mention goes to "No Cars Go" because it's the most upbeat tune on the album, it sounds somehow like The Arcade Fire meets TV on The Radio meets a massive choir, it has something very "Return to Cookie Mountain" going on, just with even more layers of voices. I like it a lot. A little bit OTT, maybe, but hey, that's what they do, isn't it?
The album's definitely a grower, but I'm not 100% convinced. Maybe another few goes round will do it... or maybe not....
I've just realised I'm not giving anyone any insight into the album, just complaining that I don't think it's as good at the last one, which I am superb at
I'm glad you like it. I think you're more of a fan than me, but that's cool, I don't want it to be a bad album.
, like Bashung or something)
