Arcade Fire

Montreal's indie-rock heroes merit every ounce of the global acclaim they have received since their 2003 formation, as this flurry of Arcade Fire Essentials — drawn mainly from the three albums Funeral, Neon Bible, and 2010's The Suburbs — amply confirms. Instrumentally diverse (the likes of the hurdy-gurdy, the pipe organ, et al, have a habit of cropping up in songs), the experimental outfit is the very definition of 21st-century eclecticism, weaving all manner of styles into their endlessly intriguing, shape-shifting body of work. The husband-and-wife team of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne glows at the core of the Arcade Fire (brother William Butler is also a member) . . . and David Bowie loves them: the legend has been known to grab a mic alongside the band at live shows. Languish happily under the dystopian weight of "No Cars Go"; embrace the anthemic heft of "Wake Up"; spiral off into bliss with "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)."