Neon Bible

Rolling Stone - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "NEON BIBLE is an aggressively gothic record, explicitly so in the pipe organ that soars over the hunger and wreckage in 'Intervention.'" Q - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[A] magical kingdom of noise that's equal parts Disney's FANTASIA and Echo and The Bunnymen's lavish OCEAN RAIN." Entertainment Weekly - "[T]he polyphonic swirl of strings, horns, and voices points toward transcendence." -- Grade: A- Alternative Press - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A]n effortlessly creative offering running from upbeat jangle-pop to understated, stripped down arrangements..." Magnet - "Arcade Fire's raw passion and heartfelt ambition remain intact....An undeniable flame still burns." Rolling Stone - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Top Albums of the Year 2007" -- "A seven-piece band that makes joyous noise out of fear and foreboding." Spin - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "NEON BIBLE actually matches the live show's scope and emotion....It feels carefully considered yet uncontrived, a bubbling mix of raw confusion and refined conviction." Q - Ranked #01 in Q's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2007" -- "[G]reat records are made by great songs, and NEON BIBLE has riches aplenty..." Rolling Stone (p.82) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "NEON BIBLE is an aggressively gothic record, explicitly so in the pipe organ that soars over the hunger and wreckage in 'Intervention.'" Rolling Stone (p.108) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Top Albums of the Year 2007" -- "A seven-piece band that makes joyous noise out of fear and foreboding." Spin (p.85) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "NEON BIBLE actually matches the live show's scope and emotion....It feels carefully considered yet uncontrived, a bubbling mix of raw confusion and refined conviction." Entertainment Weekly (p.105) - "[T]he polyphonic swirl of strings, horns, and voices points toward transcendence." -- Grade: A- Q (p.107) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[A] magical kingdom of noise that's equal parts Disney's FANTASIA and Echo and The Bunnymen's lavish OCEAN RAIN." Alternative Press (p.182) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A]n effortlessly creative offering running from upbeat jangle-pop to understated, stripped down arrangements..." Magnet (p.90) - "Arcade Fire's raw passion and heartfelt ambition remain intact....An undeniable flame still burns." Q (Magazine) (p.89) - Ranked #01 in Q's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2007" -- "[G]reat records are made by great songs, and NEON BIBLE has riches aplenty..."

The sophomore release from Canada's premier alt folk-rock multi-instrumentalists is the eagerly anticipated follow up to 'Funeral,' one of the surprise smash hits of 2005. Described as "like standing by the ocean at night" by lead singer Win Butler, 'Neon Bible' is a collection of huge, multi-layered masterpieces which include an incredible range of textures and instruments, including a full Hungarian orchestra and a military choir which easily surpasses its predecessor in terms of originality, scope and accessibility. Includes the single 'Keep The Car Running.'|

近頃の新人バンドに好きなアーティストを訊くと、アーケイド・ファイアを挙げることが多い。彼らの活動形態や、シーンに左右されない自由な発言や立ち位置は、多くのバンドが掲げる理想を体現しているからだろう。ゴッド・スピード・ユー・ブラック・エンペラーが不可解な沈黙を続けるなかで、同じモントリオール発の彼らが築き上げた反体制的ロック・コミューンは、われわれの期待を一身に背負い、待望のセカンド・アルバムと共にふたたび過激な福音を鳴らしはじめた。壮大なオーケストレーションは祝祭感を格段に向上させ、タイトなコード進行で突き進む楽曲や耽美で叙情的なメロディーの上に燦燦と降り注ぐ。胸に迫るような美しくも退廃的な展開に、情念の涙は必至だ。根底に流れるパンク・スピリットも健在で、前作『Funeral』以上に攻めの印象を強く受ける。予想や期待以上の圧倒的な大傑作がここに誕生した!
bounce (C)冨田 明宏