From the Vault: Bloc Party Silent Alarm

Not as much of a party as their name or contemporaries would suggest, but they're probably the best of the bunch

Riding the waves led by fellow 80's influenced rockers Franz Ferdinand and even to a degree the Killers, Bloc Party has for the most part flown under the radar, although they have a very formidable single in "Banquet" that has earned them some spotlight into the mainstream. Anyway, for those of you that don't keep track of every "Hot New Group" that NME, Pitchfork, or Spin are rushing into your laps, I present to you Bloc Party. First and foremost, while they are deeply rooted in 80's rock, they hardly compare to Franz Ferdinand, they're much too urgent, dark and brash. Instead a more ample comparison would be to look at Interpol's sharp and edgy guitar riffs, and mix that with powerful vocals that could only perhaps be compared Blur's Damon Albarn and add a touch of industrial edge that's akin to The Rapture or The Faint, and you have somewhat of an idea. What separates Bloc Party from everyone else though, is that while they can definitely match the others in exceptionally witty songwriting, Bloc Party is much more willing and able to pull off outstanding ballads such as "This Modern Love" and "Blue Light," where the vocals are much more hushed but never lose any sense of importance. This is also true on the beautifully anthemic "So Here We Are" that swells gradually until by the end of the song it's a wonderful grandeur of guitar with Kele Okereke repeating passionately "I can see it again" it almost feels like one of U2's finer moments. It's when you hear these songs that you realize that Bloc Party is in fact a much more complete band, able to go from the balls to the wall raucous of "Helicopter," the aforementioned "Banquet" and "Price of Gas" to the midtempo and also quieter songs. All the way through however, the lyrics and overall songwriting is never lacking, which is surprising for a group going through their first full-length album, because each lyric is sang with such importance that you really feel the presence of maturity. With albums like these from relative unknowns, it's easy to see how 2005 is looking more and more to be the ultimate year for rock music, so long as you know where to look. Exceptionally solid all around, Silent Alarm is worth serious consideration.

★★★★¼