10.
Arcade Fire
Neon Bible

On the first few listens I was convinced that this was an improvement on their debut, 2005’s Funeral, and that it was set to be album of the year. Neither was quite true: this is a superb album from a band that is really on the cutting edge, but its reflective aspects are not a match for the passion of its predecessor. When it sparks, there is nothing better: ‘No Cars Go’ and ‘Keep The Car Running’ are excellent examples. Unfortunately, tracks like ‘My Body Is A Cage’ and ‘Windowsill’, whilst being interesting and clever, are too plodding for true greatness. A little like the Bloc Party album, I was hoping for something more than I got here, but similarly, by setting the bar so high with their debut, Arcade Fire really shot themselves in the foot. Considered on its own merits, Neon Bible has much to offer and is a cut above the average. Overall, though, this album has to be filed as a flawed masterpiece.