Silent Alarm [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Bloc Party

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Vice Records
• ASIN: B0007NFMDK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (157 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,171 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Styled more along the lines of a revolutionary cell than a band, Bloc Party approach the medium of rock'n'roll with the sort of high seriousness usually reserved for philosophy lectures. Yet on Silent Alarm, this "autonomous unit" of smart, wiry London youth don't just succeed in reinvigorating the artform--they come pretty close to reinventing it from the ground up. Whereas early singles like "She's Hearing Voices" found the band still attempting to chisel their own image out of familiar post-punk reference points--The Fall, Joy Division, and Gang Of Four, to name but three--newer tracks such as "Like Eating Glass" and the prickly "Price Of Gas" find Bloc Party pioneering a freshly-minted template of staccato percussion, expansive soundscapes, and cryptic lyrics that artfully straddle the political and the personal. Russell Lissack has forsaken that overdone hallmark of post-punk, brittle tortured-fretboard skronk, in favor of an effects-laden guitar sound that adds genuine prettiness to Bloc Party's edgy rush. But it's Kele Okereke's vocal that's the band's most flexible facet, morphing from frothing anger to breathless desperation. "Are you hoping for a miracle?" he bays, on "Helicopter". Yes? Well Silent Alarm ably fits the bill. --Louis Pattison

Product Description
Bloc Party is an autonomous unit of un-extraordinary kids reared on pop culture between the years 1976 and the present day. They eventually concluded that their own attempts to imitate what had informed them could be innovative and fresh.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Brilliant, April 30, 2005

By	Connie W. Sowa "Indie/Brit Rock enthusiast" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bloc Party's debut album Silent Alarm is without a doubt a masterpiece. One of the best new bands to emerge from the UK alternative rock scene, post-punk Bloc Party create a stream of eloquent songs so good I swear they all seem to be potential singles. Even the "slower" songs are full of energy.

Bloc Party's strength lies in creating fast, funky rhythms with a punk feel. As a drummer, I know a good drummer when I see one and Matt Tong is a good drummer; his beats are all innovative and almost give the effect of a drum machine, they're so precise. Although I'll admit it took me a while to get used to Kele Okereke's very unique voice, after a few rotations on my cd player I really grew to like it. Both Kele and Russell Lissack are strong guitarists, and each song has a very distinct guitar line that will make you want to dance or at least nod your head until it feels like it will fall off. Gordon Moakes, the bassist, adds a lot of the funk to the band, providing steady yet fun beats that will get stuck in your head.

The best songs on this album are "Positive Tension," "Pioneers," "Plans," "Helicopter," "This Modern Love," and their debut single "Banquet." "Banquet" has been a huge dance hit in the UK this summer, and for good reason. "Plans" is the most haunting song on the album, and it is reminiscent of the creepiest songs on Radiohead's OK Computer; it's quite dark and saddening. "Helicopter" is just plain fun, while "Pioneers" is powerful and engaging. "This Modern Love" serves as something that I think sets Bloc Party apart: a slow song with gloomy lyrics but with quick drums. They're one of the only bands I've heard who can do that. "Positive Tension" is probably my personal favorite; it's smart and purposeful, fast and driven, enjoyable and danceable, and has an absolutely amazing guitar solo that makes me nod my head in the middle of class to it, since I can't get it out of my head! There's really no other word for it other than "cool." However, in the end it really is difficult to choose the "best" songs, as every song is astoundingly good and it all depends on what you personally like.

If I may go off on a side tangent for a moment....Upon having a chance to see the band live in DC, I took it... and wasn't disappointed in the slightest. They're even better live than on record, so I'd highly recommend seeing them if you ever get a chance.

In the end, Bloc Party is a very talented, innovative new band with refreshing songs that have never been done before. This album is energetic and fun, and Bloc Party makes many statements throughout it without the listener even realizing they're doing it. I highly recommend this band if you're a fan of Brit rock/Indie guitar rock/Post-Punk; the bands Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Razorlight, the Killers, Radiohead, and Gang of Four; and are still mourning the devastating break-up of the Libertines. I guarantee that no matter what you listen to over the next few months, you'll keep turning back to this cd... that is if you ever take it out of your cd player long enough to listen to anything else.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Personal Favorite Album of '05, July 10, 2006

By	MasterReviewer "Sam Thurn" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Bloc Party has a unique style of music that I personly find very amusing. When the singer hits some chords that I've never heard before It sends shivers down my spine everytime I hear them. Hear is a list of tracks and ratings:


1. Like Eating Glass- 4.5/5-A very catchy good song with good lyrics, but the drums are a little off in the song.

2. Helicopter- 5/5-My favorite and a lot of other peoples favorite song too. Simple chorus, great guitar, great vocals.

3. Positive Tension- 4/5-Beginning is a little rought but once the song gets going it makes you tap your toes.

4. Banquet- 5/5-Most popular song, a lot like helicopter awesome lyrics.

5. Blue Light- 4.5/5-First slow song but a very good one. When he starts going fast, it is one of my favorite moments on the cd.

6. She's Hearing Voices- 4/5- The chorus gets a little anoying and the voice is rasping but it is catchy at the same time.

7. This Modern Love- 5/5-One of my favorite songs one the cd."You told me you wanted to eat up my sadness" is a great line.

8. Pioneers- 5/5-Best vocals on entire album. I get goosbumbs every time I listen to it. This is the song I show people who don't know about about Bloc Party.

9. Price of Gas- 5/5-The best drummed song on the cd. Has almost a scary feel to it. Great song.

10. So Here We Are- 4.5/5- You may recognize it from the Saturn commercial. Very slow but repetitive. Still a good song.

11. Luno- 4/5-Not my favorite song but quick song, catchy, decent lyrics.

12. Plans- 5/5- One of my favorite song on the cd but not others. I think the lyrics are spectacular and his vocals are really on display. This also has a scary feel to it.

13. Compliments- 4.5/5- Very slow... a song to sit back and just close your eyes and listen to. Guitar is exceptional.

Overall it is a great albulm with just a few issues with recording but I truly think you will enjoy just as I have and I think that future BP albums will be good as well.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How Soon Is Never?, June 25, 2005

By	David Chris Dalton (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

American indie-rock has been mining the exact same post-Velvet Underground/Sonic Youth, vocally whiny, detached irony for over FIFTEEN years.

England really did invent and perfect post-punk. Just like they invented and perfected heavy metal.

The fact that current English bands are creating sounds that look back at their gloriously rich history should really come as no surprise to anyone.

So the English will SING, dabble with the ability to make you dance, shimmer, chime, envelope you with atmosphere, SING in ways they've really never stopped doing for the past twenty-five years. SING. Did I mention that they actually sing?

Since our current musical climate is so utterly lame (there are a number of Americans making decent music that may or may not mine these English influences), it's no wonder that the quite healthy U.K. pop scene is, once again, being hailed as revelation on this side of the Atlantic.

Bloc Party rock. The Futureheads rock. The Doves rock. England's Dreaming and thank f**king god for that.

Oh, yeah. Put "Turn on the Bright Lights," "The Last Broadcast," "Make Up the Breakdown" in a blender with The Cure, U-2, Close Lobsters and, yes, you've got this record. Not perfect, almost too ambitious, but I can't wait to hear where the band go from here. I love it!