neon bible

my 11th favorite album of the year is neon bible by the arcade fire. their first major label release funeral, was my favorite album of 2004. it was a fresh, and completely original album. on neon bible, the band seems to have matured. songs like keep the car running, and black waves/bad vibrations sound like the best part of the 80's while keeping their distinctive style. the first hit off of neon bible was the epic intervention. i really think this is one of the best rock songs in the past few years. lyrically, this album focuses on the commercialization and the completely un-biblical state the church is starting to become. in the song intervention they sing:

been working for the church
while your life falls apart.
singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart
every spark of friendship and love
will die without a home
hear the soldier groan, "we'll go at it alone"
hear the soldier groan, "we'll go at it alone"

there are many other bold statements on the album, and they are derived with a passion and urgency that could have made this album one of my favorite of the year except for 3 or 4 songs that just do nothing for me. this is definitely one of the most important and relevant bands of today, and i have not lost any faith in them.

movies number 12 & 11 will be posted over the next few days, and then we get down to the best stuff.