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Neon Bible

(2007, Indie rock, by Arcade Fire, Label: Merge)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Raw, wide-eyed band reacts with intense lyrics.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Lyrics deal with controversial topics like falling bombs, fighting like a soldier, living in an ocean of violence, ground-hitting planes. One reference to World War III.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    One reference to MTV. Includes lyrics like "they say it's money that we need" and "salesman coming after me."
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Abstract line: "Take the poison of your age."
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Neon Bible

Parents need to know that this album is a treasure chest of emotions and worldly perspective. The words are brutally honest and sometimes depressing ("A vial of hope and a vial of pain/In the light they both looked the same" and "I'm standing on a stage/Of fear and self-doubt"), but the dark messages are lifted by beautiful, soaring instrumentals and interesting sounds. Once you get past the influx of intense reactions to the government, church, military, and basic rights of the common man, you'll be happy to know that profanity, sexism, and commercialism aren't an issue on this album.

Read our full review by Karen Fu

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the malevolent vision depicted in the lyrics. How do you empathize with the band's critical point of view? What do you think of their reactions to the government, church, military, and basic rights of the common man?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    AMAZING album.

    I absolutely LOVE this album. Arcade Fire is one of the best bands of this generation...one of the few who still produce good, REAL music instead of the fake garbage that dominates 99% of the charts these days. This truly is an amazing album, and, in my opinion, is ever bit as good as "Funeral", their amazing debut album that you should also buy. I would suggest songs that you should download if you're not going to buy the whole album, but, quite frankly, I can't suggest anything BUT purchasing the whole album. The only song on the album that I don't love is the finale, "My Body is a Cage", and the only reason is that it's not really "epic" enough to be the finale. I'm sure I would like it a lot more if it was the second-to-last song on the album and "No Cars Go" was the finale instead...that song is truly epic. Anyway...buy it, buy it, buy it!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Deserves a Grammy

    This album completely blew me away. I'd never actually heard Arcade Fire before, and I bought the album after reading a good review- I was not disappointed! The lyrics are poetic, thoughful, and fit the music like key and lock. If I ever wanted to be in a band, this is what I would aspire to.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Wow

    This may be my favorite album of the year. Perfect, amazing instrumentals, great vocals, though not as good as 'Funeral'. Songs to Download My Body is a Cage Windowsill No Cars Go Intervention

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    "Funeral" was better

    vocals are a little whiny, could have been better. I liked their album funeral better. Not bad.

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