No matter how bad it is, it won't be a disappointment for me, since I absolutely expect it to suck. I like Silent Alarm, but there have been so many bad signs for this.
Posts: 1115 | Location: new york | Registered: 10 October 2005
i've listened to it a couple times today, and although i don't think it's a bad album, it's definitely not good either. then again, i didn't think Silent Alarm was that great either.
the song "the prayer" is kind of kick ass.
but the album falls flat, because there aren't that many big moments. there were more of these on their first album.
maybe i'm just not into the britpop version of dance-punk, i don't know. but it seems to me that they've lost the energy and nervous tension that their first album had. also, when did they get so into new wave? lastly, they sound a tad emo-ish/heart on sleeve.
I've listened to the first few (I think 6) songs about 3 times, and I was rather... underwhelmed. It seemed like they have this revolutionary new idea that they should start their songs of slowly and/or quietly, only to build to massive conclusion that will make you cry with joy at the sheer glory of it all!
Also, "East London is a vampire, it sucks the life right out of you"? You'd think they could have come up with something more creative than that.
Silent Alarm was a good album. But anyone who toots their own horn saying their next album will be "Revolutionary" deserves a bit of skepticism.
I've listened to the first 5 or 6 tracks a few times and the skepticism was well deserved. I've never been too much a fan; and this album kinda lacks some creativity. Atleast what I've heard so far, in my opinion.
Wah wahh
Posts: 7 | Location: Indianaaaaa | Registered: 20 October 2006
Originally posted by Vancea Mihai: To me it's just as good as Silent Alarm. I absolutly love it. Franz Ferdinand blew it with their second, but Bloc Party made it.
Really? I loved Franz Ferdinand's second album. There was no drop off in songwriting craft the way there is with the new Bloc Party. As much as I've warmed up to this record I don't think I'll ever see it as even beginning to compare to Silent Alarm.
2 listens and I don't like it at all. I like part of the first song, but after that I agree wth dubs: every song has the same sound, they're boring as hell anf there's none of the loud catchy stuff that made Silent Alarm fun to listen to.
Posts: 1115 | Location: new york | Registered: 10 October 2005
Ok, I guess I'm going to be the first on here to say that I love this new cd. I think Bloc Party has taken a lot of reference points from other bands and included it into their sound to make something that's a huge step forward from Silent Alarm. I guess if you wanted Silent Alarm part 2, then this is a dissapointment. But if you wanted an evolution in sound then you got it (I think Bloc Party took a page from M83 for this one).
There's some moments that echo back to Silent Alarm (Hunting for witches, Song for Clay) and I think they take these those moments Alarm and move them in a different direction. Hunting for Witches has some elements that remind me of the Dismemberment Plan's "Emergency and I" particular Memory machine. The Prayer is MASSIVE, and a high point on the early part of the cd. The lyrics are great and the drumming is huge.
The latter half of the cd is more along the lines of "Blue light." And while the slower ballads on the last cd bothered me, I like them a lot this time around. Especially, Kreuzeberg (which I think is one of the best songs they've ever put out).
I guess that's it. I like the cd, and I'm happy they've changed their sound. I'm not dissapointed at all.
I guess that's it. I like the cd, and I'm happy they've changed their sound. I'm not dissapointed at all.
I guess my problem with it is that Bloc Party was one of the most energetic bands out and they lost that spark. I recognize that bands need to evolve but even the most raucous songs on this album sound limp compared to "Helicopter" or really anything off of Silent Alarm. Some of the lyrics on this album are very poignant, "Kreuzberg" is probably my favorite song right now, but I find myself listening to them in the way I listen to Death Cab or Owen and Bloc Party just doesn't do that well as a mellow band.
I usually wouldn't do this but I have to...This may be one of the worst albums I've had the absolute displeasure to sit through in a long time. I mean, I FORCED myself to listen to it. Twice. And I was just agitated the entire time. While there are some nice moments musically, the lyrics on this thing may as well have been written by a nine year old. Cliche ridden, trite, and just plain boring. I really liked Silent Alarm (and remixed), but I just can't see how anyone could possibly like this nonsense if you are more than half listening to it. The lyrics are embarrassingly bad. If you do consider yourself a fan of the album, do yourself a favor and have a nice close listen next time around. You may never listen to it again. I actually deleted it from my computer because it was slowing everything down. SOOOO bad. And I started the topic...
Whew! I feel better. Carry on...
Posts: 132 | Location: DC | Registered: 05 April 2006
