Bloc Party : Silent Alarm

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After being dominated by jock rock and M.O.R. sap for the better part of a decade, mainstream rock eventually began to show some promise of digging itself out of a creative rut in the early-mid ’00s. Singles by The Futureheads, Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand and Arcade Fire infiltrated the radio waves, suggesting that as the pendulum had swung as far as it could possibly go into generic drudgery, it too would eventually swing back toward refreshing and exciting sounds, if only temporarily. Music isn’t a solitary comfort, it’s something we can share with each other. And let’s face it, most of us want the same thing in a band—hooks, a unique sound, a lasting impression and a long shelf-life. So while varying takes on retro and have been vomited forth for the past few years, along comes a band like Bloc Party, balancing vintage influences with a modern sensibility

Few albums this year can compete with the expectations leveled at Silent Alarm, Bloc Party’s debut full-length. And that’s both blessing and curse—it’s natural to assume any album that’s universally loved or hated is likely to be nowhere near as good or bad as anyone says it is. But Silent Alarm is, simply put, a superb record.

Silent Alarm displays Bloc Party’s strength as masters of creating taut post-punk singles, yet holds together well as a cohesive whole. While many of BP’s forebears were best consumed in seven or 12-inch form, the UK foursome packs as much punch between the radio tracks. Already making quite an impact here in the US, “Banquet” is one of the strongest indie rock singles out there today. Its herky-jerky guitar harmonies and hypnotically melodic chorus are juxtaposed so well, it’s astounding to believe that a band had the foresight to combine the best of punk and pop without hyphenating the two. Similarly, “Helicopter” is a shot of manic, guitar-driven energy and “She’s Hearing Voices,” in re-recorded form, is heavy and robotic in detached, post-punk gloom.

UK hit “Little Thoughts” is included on the American edition of Silent Alarm, which is a blessing considering the import duties required for finding it otherwise. But it’s hard to find a song on this collection that isn’t worth gushing over. “Like Eating Glass” is as soaring and powerful as an album opener could be, echoing vintage U2. “Blue Light” and “This Modern Love,” with their respective choruses of “you are the bluest light” and “would you like to come over and kill some time?” are melodic and touching, displaying the softer side of the Party without abandoning their edgy, danceable sensibilities.

At their edgiest, Bloc Party is a force to be reckoned with. The marching drums and delay-heavy guitar treatment of “Price of Gas” is among the record’s most deliciously sinister goth-rock moments. “Luno” also rocks hard, with layers of reverb-drenched guitar overlaying a racing one-note bassline and Kele Okereke’s rapid-fire vocal delivery. But nowhere is Okereke as anthemic and Bono-like as in “Pioneers,” in which the young vocalist declares, “We promised the world we’d tame it/what were we hoping for?” in true youthful, invulnerable fashion.

Bloc Party are a rare band that can continue to make guitar rock (for lack of a better phrase) sound fresh and exciting. Though they’re far from the only band to pull off a combination of both style and creativity (hi, Franz Ferdinand), the execution of their first proper full-length is impeccable. Silent Alarm is an astounding debut and an all-around fantastic listen.

Similar albums:
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UK post punk Gang of Four EntertainmentGang of Four – Entertainment!

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