Released a few weeks back is 'Silent Alarm' by the critically acclaimed 'Bloc Party' the new band of 2005 heralded by NME as the new 'Franz Ferdinand' along with the Kaiser Chiefs this year. They were alreadey nominated for best new band at the NME awards last month, and have got to number 3 with 'Silent Alarm' The album is a rock album, but it a breakthorugh from the coldplay-rock around at the moment. The lyrics are bush-baiting anti war songs, and love songs in others. Theres everything in there. One things that makes this stand out from other bands are Kele's singing voice, It's urgent and with a rap/hip hop sound to it, which is different from normal rock, but is definatley not a bad thing.
1: Like Eating Glass. This song starts with sharp guitar sounds before the trademark heavy quick paced drum beats come in for a long into. This song is one of the stand outs on the album, and is very foot-tappable. The guitar riffs are great in this song, wich has no chorus for half the song. Therepeatable words make this a memorable song and a livley into to the album. The glass-like sharp guitars continue through
till the end, with a great bridge.
2: Helicopter. Just as livley as 'Like eating Glass' this track contains heavy guitars and is the bush-baiting song of the album. just like his dad / same mistakes/ some things will never be different. This song is more of a grower, but you will grow to like it. There are some more sharp guitars and heavy drum beats to make this track.
3: Positive Tension. This was released as a B-side to 'so here we are' and starts with bass, before drums kick in with a electronic sound accomoniying. The verses are the most rapped on the album, but are still good. It's pretty different.
4: Banquet. Probably the best song on the album, this has an addictive guitar 'answer and call' with fast paced livley and a bit bouncy vocals. The chorus is memorable and singalongable and has an addictive drum beat. The only downside is the 'Im on fire' bit at the end. but otherwise its great.
5: Blue Light. This is a fast paced ballad (if thats possible) and uses Kele's softest voice possible, and drum tapping. It's not an anthemic ballad, like Snow Patroils 'Run' (I love that song) or Coldplays 'Trouble', but its still a really great song. Halfway the sharp guitars pick up, as do the heavy drums, but this still manages to remain a quiet sone. Quite short though.
6: She's Hearing Voices. This song starts with chanting, it's kinda odd, anfd this chanting style continues. If it wasnt a catchy song with great guitar riffs and the usual heavy drums then this might be a bit rubbish.
7: This Modern Love. Sort of slow, using the left/right speaker switch for full effect here, and features the good old glockenspiel. This is a good song, with more great guitar riffs, finishing as softly as it began.
8: The Pioneers. Starting with lost of glass sharp guitars this song id drumless until they kick in heavily halfway through the verse. It continues this way till the end.
9: The price of Gasoline. Deaths not money. Theres alot behind this song, which contains clapping and rapping. Wich will certainly get you feet tapping. The song also contains little electronic noises which I like alot, apart from the clapping, the song gets better as you go through, because it sounds total crap at the beginning.
10: So Here we Are. This is a slow soft song, which was released in January. The song features a guiter rift which goes from start to finish. Theres heavy drums to add to this, and soft vocals from Kele. Despite being the 'headline' single for the album, the single does not demonstrate the ususal style of bloc Party. Positive Tension (the B-Side) is better at doing this.
11: Luno. This is a very fast paced song from the start, and is almost rapped throughout. and has some of the heaviest drums on the album. It's quite a contrast from 'So Here we Are' and putting them next to each other might nort have been the best idea.
12: Plans. Things slow down again for this track. There are toned down drums with sharp guitars along with Keles soft vocals. Deja Vu. Its not different but its still a great song,
13: Compliments. This is the final track on the album, and is the regular quiet offering pushed to the end like on most rock albums I have (The Killers have done it, Embrace have as well as the nes Stereophonics album and Snow Patrol). The song is mainly swirling chords with 'brainwash' style vocals with soft tapping drums and small guitar sounds. Boring though it may sond, this song is eiree and one of my favourites for being different.
Silent Alarm is one of the most different rock albums I have heard in a long time, and Bloc Partys style has been widley accepted and they are hailed by Zane Lowe, NME and MTV2. Buy this album if you are into the general rock/indie thing and easily embrace something different. Even if you don't, this album will grow on you.
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Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
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Styled more along the lines of a revolutionary cell than a band, Bloc Party approach the ... more
medium of rock'n'roll with the sort of high seriousness usually reserved for philosophy lectures. Yet on their debut album,Silent Alarm, this "autonomous unit" of ...
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Styled more along the lines of a revolutionary cell than a band, Bloc Party approach the ... more
medium of rock'n'roll with the sort of high seriousness usually reserved for philosophy lectures. Yet on their debut album, Silent Alarm, this "autonomous unit" of...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Lyrically and vocally compelling.Sounds bit like Joy Division, Sonic Youth, The Cure and such like Disadvantages: The vocals can sometimes bit a bit shouty and musically they aren't that impressive or different.
Advantages: It's an excellent album, totally different to everything else. Contains one of the best song's I've heard in years Disadvantages: A few tracks take their time to grow. Instantly compared to bands like Franz Ferdinand and The Killers, without being judged on its own merit
Advantages: Lyrically and vocally compelling.Sounds bit like Joy Division, Sonic Youth, The Cure and such like Disadvantages: The vocals can sometimes bit a bit shouty and musically they aren't that impressive or different.
Mar 24th, 2005
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