Bloc Party: Silent Alarm

    Some good old fashioned Alternative music for you, from the place that knows how to do it best, Britain--practically invented it with groups like The Smiths, Radiohead, and Joy Division (to name a few!). Fast-forward roughly ten years give-or-take, and you have Bloc Party, which formed in 1999. They didn't actually settle on the name until 2003, but went on to win Indie Album of the Year in 2006 with this release, Silent Alarm. Funny coincidence, I remember when the song "Banquet" was "new" and popular, and I kept hearing it on the radio, but never knew what it was called or what band played, but now six years later I have finally found that song I always have wondered about. So, that may be why I am writing this one up, even though I like the album so far what I've heard. Not my favorite, but definitely worth a listen, especially if you appreciate the Alternative and/or Post-Punk genre and are into British music. Bloc Party has put out two more albums, A Weekend in the City (2007) and Intimacy (2009). Apparently we can expect a fourth LP in 2012, date yet TBD, even after the band went on hiatus and pursued side projects after dropping Intimacy. The lead singer Kele Okereke in that time put out two albums, The Boxer (a full effort in 2010) and The Hunter (an EP in 2011). I have not listened to either of these, as Bloc Party is relatively new to me, though I may have heard their name thrown around before now. From what I've heard, it does sound like they have included more electronic influences into their more recent work, something to look out for on their upcoming, though I 've also heard rumors that they want to get back to what they used to do, more guitar driven.
    The album, Silent Alarm is very guitar driven, and beat driven, with almost a Dance, post-disco style energy. The Post-Punk definitely comes in with Kele's vocals, high in the tessitura (the comfortable range of a singer) with that typical "drawl" (mind you, not southern, just couldn't think of a better description) of sorts that you'd come to expect from a Punk group, like MXPX or something. The grunginess of the guitars and the chord progressions, which vary more than I-IV-V reek of Alternative and Post-Punk, which is a combination I particularly love; meaning, the group shows more creative composition style and variety. And the drums push the Dance feeling, upbeat and uptempo. There is great layering with the vocals and guitar being almost counter-melody, like The Strokes do so well with their fantastic hooks. I actually like the intros to most of the songs too, especially "Like Eating Glass", which kicks off the album and sets the tone well. Another great intro is "Little Thoughts", which sounds like it starts in a tunnel or lo-fi even, then just hits the guitar full blast and sounds fresh and raw and real all of the sudden.
    Well, definitely an in-your-face, unafraid sound, Bloc Party; check out their song "Banquet" under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'. Also, listen to more on their MySpace here (Silent Alarm is almost full stream, some songs are only 30 second clips, which I hate! and there is A Weekend in the City also, sorry not Intimacy, except for a few songs on the front page--including one you may have heard around, "Ares"). A few explicit songs here and there, check lyrics if you want, but "Banquet" is clean. Cool link here too, to blocparty.net, where you can see lyrics and stuff. Enjoy this foray into the greatness that is British rock!