2. Intervention (from Neon Bible, 2006)
While it may be one of the more slow and somewhat dispiriting tracks from second album 'Neon Bible', 'Intervention' is a stunning piece and a musical marvel. Lyrically, it's almost painful, speaking of the ultimate loss of friendship and love for the sake of survival in a wholly unforgiving world, and Win Butler's vocals sound drier and most desperate than even. It serves as the band's own scathing social commentary, their own take on politics and religion in today's culture. Backed almost solely by a poignant pipe organ, 'Intervention' harbors a feeling of helpless abandon and excruciating redemption, but is gut-wrenchingly beautiful and one of the most matter-of-fact and expressive tracks Arcade Fire have ever written.
1. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) (from Funeral, 2004)
It's strange to think that after all this time, four albums later, the opening track from Arcade Fire's first album and the first installment of the 'Neighborhood' quadrilogy, 'Tunnels' would remain the most timeless of them all. Like so many Arcade Fire songs that would follow it, 'Tunnels' left us all feeling a bit strange. Seen through the eyes of a lost and paranoid soul but with an unmistakeable aura of triumph about it somehow, 'Tunnels' builds slowly, upping the tension throughout with its grand, orchestral instrumentation. The lyrics tell a beautiful story and at just the right moment, the song breaks and a gorgeous wave of sonic power washes over everything, with Régine's soaring high notes flying high above it. It provides the perfect introduction to Arcade Fire's sound and an exciting taste of things to come. Which Arcade Fire songs would make your Top 15? Let us know down below in the comments!