Review of Silent Alarm (Bloc Party)

Sadly, Bloc Party will never get another chance at a first full-length album. The band consists of Kele Okereke (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Russel Lissack (Lead Guitar), Gordon Moakes (Bass), and Matt Tong (Drums). The band's sound can only be described as recycled post-punk, and this recycling is not going to help prevent global warming.

In the positive, I have to disagree with the esteemed reviewer when he says, "[T]he band is at their absolute worst when they try to slow down the tempo and write atmospheric ballads such as on 'Blue Light' and 'So Here We Are.'" I found "Blue Light" to be one of the most interesting songs on the album, with the drums making sounds other than the droning "thump thump thump" found on the rest of the album. Well, I suppose the reviewer was half-right: "So Here We Are" was terrible.

In the negative is just about the rest of the album. John Henry Heinz once said, "To do a common thing uncommonly well brings success." Silent Alarm is certainly not uncommon, drawing heavily from the styles of bands like Joy Division and Gang of Four. Unfortunately, the common sounds are not done uncommonly well, and the album falls flat. This album is just boring. I think almost actually fell asleep while listening. It's no secret that I prefer up-tempo styles, but this is just dreadful.

While my friends know that I hold no great love for Joy Division or Gang of Four, my advice is this: Skip this album, put some of your old Joy Division vinyl on, and save yourself the money it would cost you to listen to the copy-cat. Furthermore, if you have a young friend who is drawn in by this album, have them listen to your Joy Division with you, and save them from the rebranding of old music.

Note: This review makes reference to a review on the Music Emissions website. That review can be found here.