New Bloc Party...

[heartsynapse]

So I'm writing an article on the new Bloc Party album, A Weekend in the City, for my school's newspaper this week and I need some opinions. Whoever has heard it...what do you think? I'm especially interested in how it compares to Silent Alarm because I don't know it extremely well. Thanks!

[TheByrus]

i found this awesome band, but they totally ripped off bloc party.


they are called gang of four.

[singthblues]

lol

[Dean Wormer]

I haven't heard the whole thing, but from what I've heard it's fucking good. And you can quote me on that one.

[RomeoAGoGo]

You need other people's opinions to write your own opinion of an album?

[takingbackrufio]

i found this awesome band, but they totally ripped off bloc party.


they are called gang of four.
That would be an accurate comparison if you completely disregard their newest effort.

Anyways, opinion on Bloc Party (considering they're my favourite band) -- the new album is fantastic. I'm not sure if I'm ready to say that it's better than Silent Alarm (my favourite album save one exception), but considering A Weekend in the City is a new direction, they've definitely created something to be proud of. They haven't reached their entire potential -- yet -- but this is definitely an indication that they have the incredible potential to reach the highest pedestal of UK music since Radiohead. As a sophmore record, it's amazing.

[TheByrus]

i have not heard the new album.

[takingbackrufio]

i have not heard the new album.
I think with the new album they kind of shake off the "Gang of Four rip-off" tag. Although I keep Silent Alarm near and dear to my heart, I can definitely accept the Gang of Four comparison on that level. Incidentally, some of the band members had never heard Gang of Four until after people started drawing comparisons between the bands. :-D

[lucasfcosta]

they were making songs like silent alarm, right? but then they listened to the new tv on the radio and thought "wow, we should do some stuff like that", and then released this new cd.

or not, i dont know. but i can see tv on the radio all over AWITC..

[heartsynapse]

You need other people's opinions to write your own opinion of an album?

i was more looking for how people felt about it compared to silent alarm because idont really feel like i could evaluate that, since i havent listened to silent alarm enough.

[xwisebuddhax]

this is dumb

[heartsynapse]

they were making songs like silent alarm, right? but then they listened to the new tv on the radio and thought "wow, we should do some stuff like that", and then released this new cd.

or not, i dont know. but i can see tv on the radio all over AWITC..


i've noticed that too.

[heartsynapse]

That would be an accurate comparison if you completely disregard their newest effort.

Anyways, opinion on Bloc Party (considering they're my favourite band) -- the new album is fantastic. I'm not sure if I'm ready to say that it's better than Silent Alarm (my favourite album save one exception), but considering A Weekend in the City is a new direction, they've definitely created something to be proud of. They haven't reached their entire potential -- yet -- but this is definitely an indication that they have the incredible potential to reach the highest pedestal of UK music since Radiohead. As a sophmore record, it's amazing.


you put this well. i really love a weekend in the city but wasn't really into silent alarm, so its good to hear this from someone who knows both.

[Cyanide]

I think I know both albums inside and out, heh. Silent Alarm was more action-packed, if you know what I mean. AWITC is much more relaxed. You can hear the old SA style Bloc in the second track of the new album : Hunting For Witches. Songs such as I Still Remember, Waiting For The 7.18, and Sunday are much more laid back, similar to Compliments on Silent Alarm, or at least that's a comparison that I'd make. I'm more of a Silent Alarm fan myself, but there's no doubt A Weekend In the City is an amazing album. Catchy and smooth, AWITC is a must buy for any music fan [/corny marketing for Bloc Party]

[Vanilla Bear]

i love both albums. Like others have stated the first one is faster and "action-packed," while some songs maintain that on the new album, it's more laid-back especially in the later part of the album, but i personally think there is more to the songs than silent alarm.

[heartsynapse]

I think I know both albums inside and out, heh. Silent Alarm was more action-packed, if you know what I mean. AWITC is much more relaxed. You can hear the old SA style Bloc in the second track of the new album : Hunting For Witches. Songs such as I Still Remember, Waiting For The 7.18, and Sunday are much more laid back, similar to Compliments on Silent Alarm, or at least that's a comparison that I'd make. I'm more of a Silent Alarm fan myself, but there's no doubt A Weekend In the City is an amazing album. Catchy and smooth, AWITC is a must buy for any music fan [/corny marketing for Bloc Party]



haha, so i wrote the first draft of the article today, and then i just came back on AP to check this board, and what y ou said is pretty much exactly what i wrote. seriously. but i really agree with you about hunting for witches, and i tried to make the article clear in that there is a lot of stuff for the old bloc party fans, but if you previously didnt like them much, you shouldnt write the album off because its great. :)

[heartsynapse]

i love both albums. Like others have stated the first one is faster and "action-packed," while some songs maintain that on the new album, it's more laid-back especially in the later part of the album, but i personally think there is more to the songs than silent alarm.

by more to the songs, do you mean the lyric? or do you mean the musical style? cause i have definitely found a HUGE difference in the lyrics.

[lucasfcosta]

post your text here when youre done :-)

[heartsynapse]

post your text here when youre done :-)


haha, i will i guess. i'm nervous about it though because its my first review ever. gah.

[miLsoN]

A Weekend In the City was really dissapointing, imo, and i think it's going to have a tough time living up to the hype. Personally I know that I had really high expectations and I can't say that they came even close to being met. It just had no flow to me, I found myself listening to songs and thinking I had just heard the same song.

[heartsynapse]

A Weekend In the City was really dissapointing, imo, and i think it's going to have a tough time living up to the hype. Personally I know that I had really high expectations and I can't say that they came even close to being met. It just had no flow to me, I found myself listening to songs and thinking I had just heard the same song.

i agree with you about the flow completely, but i still find it enjoyable to listen to. but i really feel like a lot of the songs are very different...hmm. are you a fan of silent alarm?

[miLsoN]

Yes, i'm a big fan of Silent Alarm, but that's not to say I expected AWITC to be another Silent Alarm. I have no problem with the direction they took, slowing things down a bit, but as I said the album as a whole just didn't do it for me. At least on first listen, I suppose I should give it some time to grow on me. There are definitely some promising tracks....

[RomeoAGoGo]

You're not indie if you don't like Bloc Party.

[takingbackrufio]

I have two complaints about AWITC:

- Matt Tong is arguably the best drummer in the world, and his skill isn't utilised properly in Weekend.
- The album is certainly overproduced. That's Jacknife Lee's style, but I still feel it could have been leveled out.

Other than that, I find myself enjoying the album every time I listen to it. It truly is an excellent sophomore release; I certainly feel that Bloc is destined for huge things, and while Weekend isn't as massive as it could've been, it's only a matter of time before Bloc makes the decade's defining album.

[miLsoN]

You're not indie if you don't like Bloc Party.

I hope this was tongue in cheek

[Vanilla Bear]

by more to the songs, do you mean the lyric? or do you mean the musical style? cause i have definitely found a HUGE difference in the lyrics.

i think both. I mean obviously musically they are still bloc party, but just more added to the songs. And definately lyrically, it seems more personal to me or relatable would be the best word.

[heartsynapse]

i think both. I mean obviously musically they are still bloc party, but just more added to the songs. And definately lyrically, it seems more personal to me or relatable would be the best word.


haha, and that is EXACTLY what i said in my article. wonderful, at least im not the only one. especially i still remember...i mean it is obviously very personal and specific, but kele isnt singing about things that people cant comprehend or feel.

[heartsynapse]

I have two complaints about AWITC:

- Matt Tong is arguably the best drummer in the world, and his skill isn't utilised properly in Weekend.
- The album is certainly overproduced. That's Jacknife Lee's style, but I still feel it could have been leveled out.

Other than that, I find myself enjoying the album every time I listen to it. It truly is an excellent sophomore release; I certainly feel that Bloc is destined for huge things, and while Weekend isn't as massive as it could've been, it's only a matter of time before Bloc makes the decade's defining album.


that was well-put. and i agree completely.

[TheByrus]

I think with the new album they kind of shake off the "Gang of Four rip-off" tag. Although I keep Silent Alarm near and dear to my heart, I can definitely accept the Gang of Four comparison on that level. Incidentally, some of the band members had never heard Gang of Four until after people started drawing comparisons between the bands. :-D


gang of four are one of the better bands to come out of the 80's.

so, not a bad choice for a band to follow after.

[lfdfforever]

most of the new songs are slower.

[heartsynapse]

okay, this is the first draft. i did it yesterday and i havent really looked it over so let me know if you find a typo. also, keep in mind that this is for a college newspaper, and the people at my school tend to listen to really bad, boring music (they are the dmb/oar type people) so..theres that. okay, here goes:



If you think you don’t like Bloc Party now, don’t be inclined to pass over the band’s sophomore effort, /A Weekend in the City/. In stores Feb. 6, the album is a step in the right direction. Bloc Party’s first album, /Silent Alarm/ was an upbeat, dance-y collection of songs dripping with catchy drum and bass lines. I never grew to like the album much, with the exception of “Positive Tension,” and was skeptical of /A Weekend in the City/. After just one listen, though, I was completely hooked. Fans of /Silent Alarm/ should not be afraid, though. The new album stays true to Bloc Party’s unique style and provides ample quick-tempoed songs accompanied by fast drums and pitchy electric guitars, but contains more variety and takes more risks that /Silent Alarm/ did.

Perhaps the biggest difference between /Silent Alarm/ and /A Weekend in the City/ is the lyrics. Singer Kele Okereke maintains his distinct voice and obvious British accent, but takes the lyrics to a more relatable and accessible level. Some tracks, such as “Hunting for Witches” and “Kreuzberg” have a political feel, especially the former, which is a response to the recent bombings of the London subway. Other tracks are more introspective and personal than those of /Silent Alarm/, and Okereke’s emotions are actually discernable, making the songs easier to connect with. “I Still Remember,” the second single off the album, recalls a day spent with a love interest gallivanting around the city, and he voices his regrets about the relationship’s failure. Lines like, “And on that teachers' training day, we wrote our names on every train” and “I could feel your heartbeat across the grass. We should have run. I would go with you anywhere” are extremely personal, but at the same time accessible to listeners. This relation draws you in much more than /Silent Alarm/ could because of all its obscure images and distant anger.

It seems to me that /A Weekend in the City/ is a bottom-heavy album. Its standout tracks are all in the second half, namely, “I Still Remember,” “Sunday,” “On,” and “Uniform.” The 11-song album ends with a slow, floating ballad called “SXRT” that focuses on Okereke’s dismal feelings about life. He sings, “If you want to know what makes me sad, well it's hope, the endurance of faith—a battle that lasts a lifetime, a fight that never ends” before the song breaks into an voluminous climax. Throughout the album, Okereke deals with his feelings about the world, growing up, regrets, and lov; emotions that everyone can relate to. These themes, paired with Bloc Party’s characteristic catchy bass lines and ringing guitars makes /A Weekend in the City/ a gem, and a success for both “hardcore” Bloc Party fans as well as former doubters, like myself.

Bloc Party’s newest endeavor has something for everyone. Tracks like “Hunting for Witches” and “The Prayer” will quench the thirst of their original fans, while the likes of “Sunday” and “I Still Remember” will draw in newer fans that may not be drawn to the old “techno” sound. Who knows, maybe this album will finally put Bloc Party on the U.S. charts, like /Silent Alarm/ did for them in the U.K. If not, it is still an album worth listening to, no matter what your previous opinion of the band was. And if you don’t like it, well, there is just something wrong with you.

[Cyanide]

haha, so i wrote the first draft of the article today, and then i just came back on AP to check this board, and what y ou said is pretty much exactly what i wrote. seriously. but i really agree with you about hunting for witches, and i tried to make the article clear in that there is a lot of stuff for the old bloc party fans, but if you previously didnt like them much, you shouldnt write the album off because its great. :)


Haha, good news. I was worrying that my first post here wouldn't get torn apart. I figured my best bet to not get super criticized was posting in a thread where I knew what I was talking about :p

I really hope Bloc finally breaks into the North American music scene this year.

Your first draft looks great in my opinion!

[heartsynapse]

Haha, good news. I was worrying that my first post here wouldn't get torn apart. I figured my best bet to not get super criticized was posting in a thread where I knew what I was talking about :p

I really hope Bloc finally breaks into the North American music scene this year.

Your first draft looks great in my opinion!

haha oh crazy APers and their criticism!
but no, i think you were dead on (obviously, cause i wrote the same thing!) and i'm glad you liked it.


ps-welcome to AP!