CD Review: Silent Alarm by Bloc Party
Published November 17, 2005
Underwhelming. That's the best way to describe this offering.
In a similar way to Kasabian, it begins promisingly enough, but it never quite manages to really grab you and make you listen. You really have to make an effort to actually listen to the whole album through, and even then it's pretty forgettable.
The first track, "Like Eating Glass", raises hopes of this being a Foo Fighters-alike sound, only to dash them when the singing starts.
It's a less clubby sound than Kasabian, and more poppy instead. This is more down-to-earth rock, but it seems to be somewhat hookless. They do sound similar to the Kaiser Chiefs, unfortunately I don't have Employment to compare the two albums fully. It doesn't matter a great deal, though. It's worth a listen if you're a fan of this style - slightly-frayed-around-the-edges-pop-rock - but otherwise, stay away, unless you don't mind being disappointed.
2/5
- CD Review: Silent Alarm by Bloc Party
- Published: November 17, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Rock
- Writer: Jon Downs
- Jon Downs's BC Writer page
- Jon Downs's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
I thought the Kasabian album was better, at least, than this one.
Good review. The album does not have much substance. Helicopter is a great track though. Surprisingly they put on a great show live at ACL this year.
Hookless? Are you fucking kidding me?
Silent Alarm is one of the top ten albums of the year. An amazing live act to boot.
They sound NOTHING like Kaiser Chiefs. I like Kaiser Chiefs, so that's not a knock, but they sound nothing alike.
Can you explain what you mean by "Like Eating Glass" sounding like Foo Fighters until the singing starts? Did you expect Dave Grohl to start crooning?
The opening of Like Eating Glass sounds very Foo Fighters in style, but once the tune proper starts (~when the singing starts) that changes and it stops sounding like the Foos.
I don't know where you get "one of the top 10 albums of the year" from but I'll have to strongly disagree on that one. I can't comment on their live act as I haven't seen it, but then again most bands are better when seen live so I'd hope these guys are.
Someone who knows NOTHING about the state of contemporary music should NOT be writing music criticism.
SILENT ALARM has been universally acclaimed as one of the best records of 2005. (Check Metacritic.com... check Pitchforkmedia.com) That doesn't mean YOU have to like it, but you should be aware of its status and include some context in this review that explains why you differ from the predominently universal praise this GREAT record has received.
This is one of the albums of the year. to compare this to kasabians debut album is unfair however. Kasabian album totally rocks its fresh new music with soul. its much better than silent alarm. Silent alarm take massive inspiration for bands like radiohead and you cant see bloc party becoming bigger than they already are.There are very good tracks on this album like "helicopter", "pioneers" and "so here we are". i would recommend this album but the band are a little too indie for the sake of being indie for me as noel gallagher said "they look like they're of university challenge"
JOE S: quoting Noel Gallagher on anything is like quoting Freddie Flintstone: funny maybe, but thoughtful, insightful or even vaguely not dumb, not a lot...
i think they're amazing and its an amazing album.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/39675)
I think you've hit the nail pretty sqaurely. I'm glad it only cost me $10. It's not bad but it didn't linger with me.