8. Keep The Car Running (from Neon Bible, 2006)
The beauty of 'Neon Bible' second single 'Keep The Car Running' lies, oddly for Arcade Fire, in its simplicity. The most unadorned, straightforward rock song they'd released up to that point, it reminded us all that it wasn't just the elaborate nature of 'Funeral' that made us fall in love with the band in the first place. Urgent-sounding but incredibly uplifting, even Win Butler drops the weary tones and sounds like he's having a good time. With drums thundering louder and faster than usual, and a continued group chorus of "keep the car running", this song was and still is a testament to the fact that Arcade Fire don't actually need to dress everything up in strings and organs for it to be interesting, and that they're certainly one one-trick ponies.
7. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) (from Funeral, 2004)
A real example of how great things can come from, well, not so great things, 'Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)', was conceived during a week-long blackout (unsurprisingly) during the Great Ice Storm of 1998. Inspired by the frustration of being completely helpless, 'Power Out' is driving but somehow feels mollifying, with its incessant kick-drums, revving guitars and almost deranged-sounding wails of despair melting into one with the captivating orchestration. 'Power Out' was one of the first examples of the grandiose, yet strangely intimate, authentic indie rock that Arcade Fire have become so well-known and loved for. It remains a staple in their live set and a fan favourite after all these years, and it's easy to see why.