6. My Body Is A Cage (from Neon Bible, 2006)
Arguably one of the most instantly affecting and memorable Arcade Fire songs in their decade-spanning career to date, 'Neon Bible' closing track 'My Body Is A Cage' is among their most soulful, honest and above all, resoundingly haunting. It spells out all our fears and insecurities in five minutes of magnificent orchestral beauty and while it marks a departure from the typically satiated yet hopeful feel of 'Funeral', it's by no means any less impressive and remains a firm fan favourite and an absolute joy to behold live. The jaded tones in Win Butler's voice are magnified by the slow-burning stand-off between chilling organs and hushed percussion, before the instrumentation begins to build and the song culminates in an absolutely rapturous climax.
5. Ready To Start (from The Suburbs, 2010)
'Ready To Start' is where 'The Suburbs' really kicks off. Opening with an eerie, hanging violin and a single repeated guitar note which give way to a compelling bass-drums track, 'Ready To Start' sees Win Butler reflecting on the harsh truths of expectations versus reality in a world which, all too often, takes too much and gives too little. It marks one of the first times Arcade Fire had used synths to any real extent in their music, and features a dark, driving synth-bass breakdown which, in true Arcade Fire styles, rebuilds its way slowly to a breathtakingly abrupt crescendo ending. One of the most uptempo tracks of 'The Suburbs', the dissonant, almost punk-esque rhythm and glittering synths definitely add something new and promising to the Arcade Fire of previous albums.