Bloc Party
albums
Russell Lissack - Guitar
Gordon Moakes - Bass, Vocals
Matt Tong - Drums
Best Album- A Weekend in the City
Biggest Influences- M83, Sonic Youth, Gang of Four
2005
Silent Alarm - 6/8
This debut by Bloc Party came along at the right time, but also is a fine example of a band full of potential in
the 00's. They rock hard, as proved by the ready-made singles "Helicopter", "Positive Tension", and "Pioneers".
They incorporate difference elements of past rock n' roll into their sound, be it dance music on "Banquet" and
"She's Hearing Voices" or folk melodies on "Blue Light" and "Compliments". The band has a sound reminiscent
of many 80's rock bands and of early 00's band, but hardly any traces of 90's alt rock to be found, which makes
for a unique kind of music. Some of the songs present more interesting ideas than thought out ones, and on
those songs the band shows a kind of "we're not quite there yet" mentality - examples include "This Modern
Love", "So Here We Are", and "She's Hearing Voices", still good songs in their own right. So what does Bloc
Party sound like and what do they represent? Well, a very personal kind of politics dating all the way back to
Gang of Four is present, with that same kind of punk mentality. Also, there is virtuoso playing by all of the four
instruments as well as kind of a futuristic ideal. It makes for some great, accessible rock music in the mid-00's
and if the band can learn to tone down the lengths of their records they will be ok. - Trevor e.y.
1.like eating glass- 4
2.helicopter- 4
3.positive tension- 4
4.banquet- 4
5.blue light- 4
6.she's hearing voices- 3
7.this is modern love- 3
8.pioneers- 4
9.price of gas- 2
10.little thoughts- 2
11.so here we are- 3
12.luno- 2
13.plans- 1
14.compliments- 4
2007
A Weekend in the City - 7/8
This is exactly what the band needed to do: make a shorter record than the last (in songs anyway, the
albums lengths are pretty close) and expand their ideas in a uniform way. The best song on here just happens
to be called "Uniform". The personal politics are still there, everything from condemning people for going with
the anti-republican crowd to teenage angst is explored. It should be said that the sound is darker and more
computerized than before, but this is still the same Bloc Party as on the debut. "Where is Home", "The Prayer",
and "Hunting for Witches" are typical BP brutal rockers while "Song for Clay", "SRXT" (where M83's influence is
duly noted), and "Uniform" build to a climactic ending. Most of this works much better than the debut, though
"On" and "Sunday" still represent problems of consistency. It should also be said that the album takes a long
time to absorb and sounds quite different and more "serious" if you are expecting repeat of the debut. Still, this
is a logical progression. Bloc Party is an important band because it makes itself important; their songs manage
to mean something while still being entertaining and as long as each record builds off of the other like this we
are in for something special. - Trevor e.y.
1.song for clay- 4
2.hunting for witches- 4
3.waiting for the 7.18- 3
4.the prayer- 4
5.uniform- 4
6.on- 1
7.where is home- 4
8.kreuzberg- 3
9.i still remember- 4
10.sunday- 2
11.SRXT- 3
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