This was the album I was probably looking forward to the most in 2007 (mainly because I didn’t really expect Radiohead to get around to releasing anything). 2004’s Funeral is one of my favourite albums of recent times - a real grower that becomes a veritable firecracker over time.

A lot of reviews felt the need to point out that Neon Bible isn’t as good. It’s not, but this isn’t important since it shows that Arcade Fire are more than capable of repeating the genius from that album and stretching it out in new and exciting directions.

Also, despite Neon Bible not quite fitting together as the wonderful whole that Funeral manages, Neon Bible probably trumps its predecessor in terms of stand-out tracks. Keep The Car Running, Intervention, Antichrist Television Blues*, No Cars Go and My Body Is A Cage are wonderful songs on a great album that desperately deserves many a listen.

*Many people have pointed out that this track sounds like it could be a Bruce Springsteen song, like that’s supposed to be a bad thing. Weird. For me it’s the best track on the album.

Stand out tracks: Keep The Car Running, Intervention, Antichrist Television Blues