Holy mother of god. I don't believe what I just listened to.
After Black Wave/Bad Vibrations this album fucking EXPLODES! Every single song surprised the hell out of me. They would all start fairly low-key and cool, but by the climax of each track I had been figuratively and musically slapped in the face. Amazing. I can't really describe how good this is. I'm going to say right now that I enjoyed this first listening more than Funeral upon first listen. Much more actually. And I friggen loved Funeral the first time I heard it.
But this album had me literally covered in goosebumps the entire time.
I'll finish my track-by-track for the sake of consistancy.
"Ocean of Noise" - Probably my third favorite song from the album upon fist listen. Two words can describe this track. Epic. Beautiful. It's simply a masterpiece.
"The Well and the Lighthouse" - Starts off fairly inconspicuous, not unlike most of the album, but around the half-way point I realize I'm listening to another masterpiece. Seemed like a perfect companion piece to "Ocean of Noise"
(Antichrist Television Blues) - Maybe my second least favorite song on the album so far. That said. It's still great.
"Windowsill" - Wow. Again, similar to "Ocean of Noise" in that it surprises the hell out of you how it can continue to escalate and escalate to its glorious climax.
"No Cars Go" - Simply shattered any expectation I could have ever had about rerecording this song. Perfect in every way. Sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't stop laughing I was just so damn happy listening to this thing. The best thing the Arcade Fire has ever done, and easily my favorite song on the album.
"My Body is a Cage" - Now THIS was the MOST surprising track on the entire album. It starts off almost frustratingly slow (but still interesting), and grows to a point where it practically overshadows everything else on the album. It's almost as if by the time you get to this song, the band is saying "Oh yeah, those 10 songs you just listened to where basically a warm-up for what you're about to hear. Buckle your fucking seat-belts." Intense doesn't even begin to describe this song. It sucked the life out of me. It's haunting and gorgeous. On repeat listenings I bet this will be the song to continue to grow and grow with every listen.
So, overall, let me just say that Neon Bible completely and utterly blew away all my expectations, and reinforces the fact that The Arcade Fire ARE infact my second favorite band. They are the next big thing. They aren't going NOWHERE!
Now, I'm off to listen to it all over again.