[MCG]

I think Funeral was overall the better album, not that Neon Bible wasn't good it just wasn't great. I'll admit I was also a little irked with 'No Cars Go' on it, why would they put a song from their Self Titled EP released in 2003 on a brand new album?

[The Horrible Esthete]

If it wasn't for Google, I would still have no idea what band cut these records.

[Jenna_Bird]

Is it The Arcade Fire?

I'm just taking a shot in the dark with this one...

-Jenna

[second_sight_kyle]

Hmm, I guess I should check into Neon Bible soon. Funeral was definitely an above average album...Neighbors all were shoutin' that they found the light...We found the light!

[PRINCESS]

I've got to give it time. I very rarely like anything the first time I hear it. (Except Maneater by Nelly)

[direwolf74]

Funeral is an incredible album which ended up being a bonafide classic the world over. When you become the biggest critical sensation in the indie-rock universe on your first record, I imagine it's pretty tough to follow that up. But Neon Bible is a damn good attempt. Is it as good as Funeral? Only time will tell. I need to hear it a few more times and let it sink in a bit more. It's not much of a departure from Funeral, but I didn't expect it to be. They're a young band and they're still finding their sound. As long as fame and fortune doesn't destroy them, I think these guys will be around for a long time.

[BIGVDOGG]

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[hotmetal401]

That's the kind of review I strive to write. That pretty much sums up exactly how I feel about the record. Man, I wish I could put the words down like that; probably why I'm stuck going to Thornley shows (although he still plays Big Wreck tunes, so it's not that bad I suppose).

Cheers,

Pat

[thesellout]

if they can pull off this much consistancy over the next couple of albums, they could be the biggest band in the world... Finally killing Coldplay

[Soupy]

'Funeral' by quite some way, i'm rather disapointed in 'Neon Bible' i'm afraid to say, the songs just don't spark and crackle in the way Funeral did. It all feels rather grandour and over the top 'No Cars Go' is the perfect example I much prefer the simple original version on the first EP over the version on the album. I'm sure some of these songs would sound better (too me) if they were stripped back somewhat and also lightened up i'm not keen on the echo and bunnymen gloomy sound that seems be thoughout it.

[QuizShowChampion]

Do I have to choose? They're very different albums. Neon Bible is a really sonically interesting album because they recorded with such a large ensemble, while Funeral had more of a dance-rock feel. It would've been easy for them to sit back and crank out another Funeral-type album, but they took a risk and found a new sound (Black wave/Bad Vibrations is the one that comes to mind right now). Personally, I really like Neon Bible a whole lot, but couldn't honestly say it's better than Funeral.

[FighterAndLover]

Funeral is an incredible album which ended up being a bonafide classic the world over. When you become the biggest critical sensation in the indie-rock universe on your first record, I imagine it's pretty tough to follow that up. But Neon Bible is a damn good attempt. Is it as good as Funeral? Only time will tell. I need to hear it a few more times and let it sink in a bit more. It's not much of a departure from Funeral, but I didn't expect it to be. They're a young band and they're still finding their sound. As long as fame and fortune doesn't destroy them, I think these guys will be around for a long time.

Damn good post; I haven't heard it enough to decide, they're pretty even so far.

I don't think any band's first two albums have ever impressed me this much. It seems every band with a great debut album has nothing fresh for their sophomore album, but Neon Bible is solid.

[MCG]

Damn good post; I haven't heard it enough to decide, they're pretty even so far.

I don't think any band's first two albums have ever impressed me this much. It seems every band with a great debut album has nothing fresh for their sophomore album, but Neon Bible is solid.

I think the so called "sophomore slump" is more of a myth than anything, lots of bands have great second albums. New Pornographers, Pearl Jam, The Hip, Trail of Dead, Stone Temple Pilots, Wintersleep, TV on the Radio, I Mother Earth, Foo Fighters, Big Wreck, Sylvie, Oasis, Nirvana, Matthew Good Band, Matt Mays, Tool, QOTSA, Rage, Soundgarden... In some of these cases I consider their second effort their best.

[sean.bonner]

Antichrist Television Blues opens the same as Gord's If I Had A Hammer version.
Just a random observation.

[FighterAndLover]

I think the so called "sophomore slump" is more of a myth than anything, lots of bands have great second albums. New Pornographers, Pearl Jam, The Hip, Trail of Dead, Stone Temple Pilots, Wintersleep, TV on the Radio, I Mother Earth, Foo Fighters, Big Wreck, Sylvie, Oasis, Nirvana, Matthew Good Band, Matt Mays, Tool, QOTSA, Rage, Soundgarden... In some of these cases I consider their second effort their best.

Hmm.. I guess my point was more if I loved a band's first album, it's rare that they delivered again on the second album. If I loved a bands second album, it was rare that I also loved their first. So I think that knocks a few off the list. So I'm saying Arcade Fire delivered two solid albums, both of which I loved from the start, and that's rare in a band, not that the second album by a band is usually bad.

i.e. I like Last of the Ghetto Astronaughts by Matthew Good Band, but their first album History Teacher is, as Matt says, "The biggest piece of shit I've ever heard."