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In case a rock has been living on top of you over the last couple of months, you would know that Neon Bible The Arcade Fire's highly anticipated follow up to Funeral is on it's way.

While the guerilla marketing surrounding the launch is puzzling in that it goes against the organic growth in popularity that the band experienced during its first albums blue period, the album itself is nothing to be scoffed at delivering their trademark orchestral brilliance to the listener throughout.

While the album doesn't quite match up against its heavyweight opponent Funeral, it does go out kicking and screaming in the 4th or 5th round, due in short to it's revalatory moments such as the Regine Chassagne vocalled first half of 'Black Wave/Bad Vibrations' or when the bridge kicks in on 'Intervention' or the re-worked and improved version of older track 'No Cars Go'

While it would be reckless to call this album a masterpiece it is certainly worthy of having time devoted to it, and the fact that it can't be said about many second albums from other big bands is a testament to it's quality.