Our Rating

User Rating

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading...

Bloc Party is perhaps, the next biggest rock band in the world. They are a band that were not formed by some corporate entity trying to squeeze every last dime out of rock n roll and dip, Formed in East London, England in 2002, their tale of mediocre beginnings and great success is one that seems to be more common to your local garage band then it would be the biggest phenomenon in the rock industry today.

The fairy-tale story of Bloc Party’s success is the legend of the common dream of every struggling musician in the planet. Lead singer Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack formed the core of the group, meeting in the neighborhood were Kele went to school and Russell lived, they ultimately formed a band called Union in 1999, with a name, a guitarist, and a vocalist, they did what so many musicians these days do…they put out an ad in a magazine enlisting the services of a bassist, where the met up with Gordon Moakes, they eventually rounded out the group with drummer Matt Tong.

In 2003, they changed their name to Bloc Party and released their debut single, “She’s Hearing Voices.” The band got their break, when Kele attended a Franz Ferdinand concert and like so many aspiring artists, threw his cd on stage at a DJ who played the groups song on the radio, and called it “GENIOUS.” That’s all it took…soon after they had labels running after them trying to attach their names to them.

Their debut record released, Silent Alarm released in 2005 was a huge hit and was voted by numerous outlets as the album of the year, the group even went platinum in their native U.K. However, without the proper exposure they didn’t even chart in the U.S.

After being featured on numerous U.S. media outlets, such as the hugely popular teen sitcom, The O.C. and having a track featured on one of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games, they started to raise a ton of eyebrows in the states, which brings us to today. The record we are reviewing, “A Weekend in the City” was released in February and unlike their last record, not only did it make the U.S. Billboard charts, debuting at #12, it charted in 17 countries, including #2 in the U.K.

While most bands in today’s industry are trying to be the next Blink 182 or Green Day, Bloc Party has a much different sound. Less like Blink more like Coldplay meets Tv On The Radio, Bloc Party have a truly refreshing sound. The majority of music today is either meaningless yet fun to listen to, or meaningful to the point of that emo stereotype, Bloc Party have found a comfortable spot right in the middle, where they are creating extremely entertaining music with a meaning. Drawing inspiration from the 7/07/05 subway bombings, drug abuse, and government issues, they created a masterpiece.

From beginning to end, “A Weekend in the City” is just awe inspiring, all thriller no filler, Bloc Party leaves its listeners buzzing yet craving for more at a meager 11 tracks. Opening with the almost agitated confessions of Kele Okereke in “Song for Clay” expressing he cannot stand East London and how he feels like he doesn’t exist their today, yet loves what it was in the past. This song defines Bloc Party in my opinion (if you don’t mind me offering it.) significantly expressive music with a catchy chorus and a perfect compliment of instrumentals bellowing behind a inimitable voice.

The third single from the album (which debuts this month) and perhaps the most meaningful track on the album is “Hunting for Witches.” Hunting for Witches was inspired by the deadly subway terrorist attacks which occurred in England on July 7th 2005, Kele talks about his inspiration in an interview with Billboard magazine, “The 30 bus in Hackney, which is just around the corner from where I live, was blown up. [That song was] written when I was just observing the reactions of the mainstream press in [the UK] and I was just amazed at how easy it’d been to whip them up into a fury. … I guess the point about the song for me is post-September 11th, the media has really traded on fear and the use of fear in controlling people.” This songs subject matter doesn’t sound like it would fit the almost upbeat catchy sound of the guitar/keyboard fueled resonance behind it, yet it is the driving force behind Okereke’s first hand experience.

Listening through the 11 track album, As a reviewer, I find myself in a quite unique spot, my goal when going into an album is to warn potential listeners of the flaws of the album, however I find myself frustrated that their isn’t much that I can say to deny the credibility of this album, yet thoroughly entertained with the genius that I am experiencing. You can listen to this album from start to finish without skipping a track; however a few noteworthy submissions really ring through, “I still remember” the first U.S. Single, brings the listener back to innocent days, and high school romance, yet still somehow manages to be more palatable to a male listener then the majority of mushy pop/rock songs infesting your radio. “Kreutzberg” is another softer track which compares love and lust to living behind the iron curtain separated by the Berlin Wall. “Uniform” tells the story of being young and misunderstood, wanting to change everything by wearing the uniform of most “rebellious” teenagers…your standard issued chuck taylors, and tattoo’s, but eventually realizing that you cannot change the world by fashion statements.

The Bottom Line: Bloc Party is going to be huge, they are everything that music is supposed to be…fun and meaningful. The most impressive part of their portfolio, is their almost cinematic rise to fame, Bloc Party rose to the top on the dreams of every kid playing their guitar right now in their room, wishing to be a rock star. There is so much bullshit in music today, you cannot listen…or watch for that matter, rock music today without seeing a guy in skin tight jeans wearing eye shadow, with a bowl cut practically crying about god knows what. However, with Bloc Party, you get that emotional element yet it isn’t about some random girl who left her socks at your house, it is about the state of the world, and simpler times.

Tracklisting

01. Song For Clay (Disappear Here)
02. Hunting For Witches
03. Waiting For The 7.18
04. Prayer
05. Uniform
06. On
07. Where Is Home?
08. Kreuzberg
09. I Still Remember
10. Sunday
11. Srxt

Websites

BlocParty.com
MySpace.com/BlocParty

Record Label:

• Vice Music

Release Date:

• 02/07/2007

Reviewer:

• Kevin Dank