Bloc Party - Page 26

BoMac · 06-22-2009, 08:46 AM

The AWITC b-sides are stellar. I listen to them almost as much as the album itself.

u2popmofo · 06-22-2009, 11:12 AM

It may just be my personal tastes or the fact that the entire reason I liked Bloc Party in the first place seems to have almost entirely vanished, but Intimacy felt extremely underdone to me. The basic ideas for the songs are there, but they just weren't thought out well enough to be memorable in my opinion. Even the tracks from it I actually like seem like they could have been better, and are pretty weak in comparison to the heights on either of the other two albums. I have no problems with a band changing their sound, and I certainly have no problems with a band using electronica. I just don't think Bloc Party did a good job with either of these on Intimacy.

On a positive note, Intimacy actually helped me like Weekend In the City quite a bit more than I used to (as some may remember, that used to be the Bloc Party album I'd continually complain about), as it's pretty dang solid in comparison to Intimacy.

FitzChivalry · 06-24-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u2popmofo

. . . but Intimacy felt extremely underdone to me. The basic ideas for the songs are there, but they just weren't thought out well enough to be memorable in my opinion.

I would agree with these two statements. But I do love 'Signs', although, I think it became even better after being tour-tested and played live. The last 3 times I saw them, 'Signs' was definitely one of the highlights of the entire show.

I saw an interview with Matt where he kind of complained how long it took to record A Weekend In The City and felt they should be able to record and release albums quicker. After Intimacy, I'd have to strongly disagree with him, and I hope he will rethink that opinion. Even Gordy said (upon the release of Intimacy) that he worried that some of the songs might be a bit "undercooked" since they hadn't tested them or fleshed them out live, as is Bloc's normal routine.

On a positive note, I was also thinking about this the other day: of some recent, 2000-ish bands, at least Bloc has changed and pushed their limits from album-to-album and not stayed static or redundant. I was thinking of bands that I really liked their debut albums like Interpol, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, Editors, but by all those bands 3rd (or 2nd) albums, they sounded exactly the same as the first and had barely changed their sound at all.

Bloc could not have made 'Mercury' or 'Waiting For The 7:18' or 'Flux' or 'Ion Square' back during Silent Alarm, so I think the fact that they've expanded their palette and still crank out great songs using all they've learned since Silent Alarm . . . well, I think that makes them a GREAT band in my mind.

u2popmofo · 06-24-2009, 04:51 PM

Signs is definitely one of my favorites from Intimacy as well.

I never had any remote interest in Editors, but I'd still probably rate all 3 of the other bands you listed having released higher quality post debut albums than Bloc Party. I think I even like Interpol's Antics more than Silent Alarm.

phanan · 06-24-2009, 05:01 PM

Well, I must be in the minority, because I think Intimacy is excellent. I still rate Silent Alarm higher, but I enjoy both immensely.

GirlsAloudFan · 06-24-2009, 05:05 PM

I have to disagree with ya Fitz on the fact that the Strokes post-debut albums sound exactly the same as Is This It.

Is This It is their best achievement to date, but First Impressions of Earth seriously sounds vastly different to it. They really did push in a few different directions on that one. There's a friggin Mellotron drenched spoken word track on there.

But not to derail or anything, I will say, for what has to be the 50th time on this site, that I fucking love Intimacy and rate it as one of my very favorite albums of 2008.

powerhour24 · 06-24-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phanan

Well, I must be in the minority, because I think Intimacy is excellent. I still rate Silent Alarm higher, but I enjoy both immensely.

Nope, despite the infighting shown over the past couple of pages, it still has a lot of support around here. It may be my least favorite Bloc Party album, but that isn't an insult in their case.

u2popmofo · 06-24-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerhour24

It may be my least favorite Bloc Party album, but that isn't an insult in their case.

True. The only reason I complain so damn much is because of how freaking much I loved these guys, and because I know they can do much, much better.

powerhour24 · 06-24-2009, 05:50 PM

They're 2 years and 1 release removed from their best work to date IMO, so I'm not too worried.

AtomicBono · 06-24-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FitzChivalry

Bloc could not have made 'Mercury' or 'Waiting For The 7:18' or 'Flux' or 'Ion Square' back during Silent Alarm, so I think the fact that they've expanded their palette and still crank out great songs using all they've learned since Silent Alarm . . . well, I think that makes them a GREAT band in my mind.

I do agree with this. I think it's great that they've progressed as a band, and there are very few Bloc songs I don't like. But Silent Alarm will always hold a special place in my heart. That album is damn near perfect. I think the dance and electronic stuff is awesome but I just don't want them to stop being a rock band.

on a side note, Ares (Villains Remix) and Mercury (Herve is in Disarray Remix) are definitely getting played at my dance party Friday. Last party I played Hunting for Witches (Crystal Castles Remix) and Signs (MMMatthias Remix).

u2popmofo · 06-25-2009, 10:23 AM

Af
ter
sex
the
bit
ter
taste
been
fooled
a
gain
the
search
con
tin
ues

FitzChivalry · 07-31-2009, 02:19 PM

http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/46382

NME News

July 29, 2009

Bloc Party: 'We might never make a record again'

Kele Okereke says he doesn't know what the band will do next

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has admitted that he doesn't know what the future holds for the band.

Speaking backstage at Australia's Splendour In The Grass 2009, Okereke confirmed that the band have no concrete plans on when their next album will be released, reports Triple J.

The band's third and last LP, 'Intimacy', was released in 2008.

"We don't know what the future holds," he said. "It's weird, we're out of contract now so... we might take a year off, we might take three years off.... we might never make a record again or we might head straight back in and do a record. We'll see how we feel come the end of this touring cycle."

Bloc Party are set to release new single 'One More Chance' on August 10.

AtomicBono · 07-31-2009, 02:30 PM

maybe they SHOULD take a break ... they seem to tour and record nonstop!

Somehow, I'm not too worried about them never making a record again. I just don't think that will happen.

phanan · 07-31-2009, 02:31 PM

I love how they take that part of the sentence, where he's really just saying anything, and make it a headline.

FitzChivalry · 07-31-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phanan

I love how they take that part of the sentence, where he's really just saying anything, and make it a headline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomicBono

Somehow, I'm not too worried about them never making a record again. I just don't think that will happen.

Yeah, me neither. As far as I know, they all get along. So really there's no reason to not make another album down the line. People that ambitious, driven and hard-working, and who get along well with each other are not going to just take three years off. I don't see it.

powerhour24 · 07-31-2009, 11:35 PM

Kele's obviously grown and changed a lot since their start, but they seem cohesive and like they're all friends and having fun on stage every night, I would assume we haven't seen the last of them, but the past 2.5 years have been kind of nuts.

cobl04 · 08-01-2009, 04:52 AM

i don't know if it's this place's influence, probably is, but i was really digging intimacy there for a while, now i don't think it's all that great, aside from a couple of tracks. i went through a big bloc kick a while back, but haven't listened to them in a while. not a fan of the banal new single either.

having said that i would have given absolutely anything to go to splendour...

intedomine · 08-02-2009, 05:14 AM

This year's line up was rather average I thought.

cobl04 · 08-25-2009, 03:11 AM

Ever wonderered what Ion Square and So Here We Are would sound like if they took elements from both?

YouTube - Delphic - Counterpoint

MissVelvetDress_75 · 09-04-2009, 08:08 AM

I do not know much about this band other than every song that appears on my Pandora radio, I love. I guess I should read though this thread and educate myself about them and their music.

06-22-2009, 08:46 AM	#501
BoMac Self-righteous bullshitter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Soviet Canuckistan — Socialist paradise Posts: 16,900 Local Time: 04:06 AM	The AWITC b-sides are stellar. I listen to them almost as much as the album itself. __________________ __________________

06-22-2009, 11:12 AM	#502
u2popmofo Blue Meth Addict Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utah Posts: 37,213 Local Time: 01:06 AM	It may just be my personal tastes or the fact that the entire reason I liked Bloc Party in the first place seems to have almost entirely vanished, but Intimacy felt extremely underdone to me. The basic ideas for the songs are there, but they just weren't thought out well enough to be memorable in my opinion. Even the tracks from it I actually like seem like they could have been better, and are pretty weak in comparison to the heights on either of the other two albums. I have no problems with a band changing their sound, and I certainly have no problems with a band using electronica. I just don't think Bloc Party did a good job with either of these on Intimacy. On a positive note, Intimacy actually helped me like Weekend In the City quite a bit more than I used to (as some may remember, that used to be the Bloc Party album I'd continually complain about), as it's pretty dang solid in comparison to Intimacy. __________________

09-04-2009, 08:08 AM	#520
MissVelvetDress_75 Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: basking in my post-concert glow still mesmerized by the orbit of his hips..Also Holding Bono Close as he requested. Posts: 25,776 Local Time: 03:06 AM	I do not know much about this band other than every song that appears on my Pandora radio, I love. I guess I should read though this thread and educate myself about them and their music. __________________

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-24-2009, 04:51 PM	#504
u2popmofo Blue Meth Addict Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utah Posts: 37,213 Local Time: 01:06 AM	Signs is definitely one of my favorites from Intimacy as well. I never had any remote interest in Editors, but I'd still probably rate all 3 of the other bands you listed having released higher quality post debut albums than Bloc Party. I think I even like Interpol's Antics more than Silent Alarm.

06-24-2009, 05:01 PM	#505
phanan Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: in the darkness on the edge of town Posts: 26,079 Local Time: 03:06 AM	Well, I must be in the minority, because I think Intimacy is excellent. I still rate Silent Alarm higher, but I enjoy both immensely.

06-24-2009, 05:05 PM	#506
GirlsAloudFan Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 26,433 Local Time: 02:06 AM	I have to disagree with ya Fitz on the fact that the Strokes post-debut albums sound exactly the same as Is This It. Is This It is their best achievement to date, but First Impressions of Earth seriously sounds vastly different to it. They really did push in a few different directions on that one. There's a friggin Mellotron drenched spoken word track on there. But not to derail or anything, I will say, for what has to be the 50th time on this site, that I fucking love Intimacy and rate it as one of my very favorite albums of 2008.

06-24-2009, 05:50 PM	#509
powerhour24 ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 11,646 Local Time: 03:06 AM	They're 2 years and 1 release removed from their best work to date IMO, so I'm not too worried.

06-25-2009, 10:23 AM	#511
u2popmofo Blue Meth Addict Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utah Posts: 37,213 Local Time: 01:06 AM	Af ter sex the bit ter taste been fooled a gain the search con tin ues

07-31-2009, 02:19 PM	#512
FitzChivalry Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: At the bottom of the ocean, in the deepest sea Posts: 6,300 Local Time: 12:06 AM	http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/46382 NME News July 29, 2009 Bloc Party: 'We might never make a record again' Kele Okereke says he doesn't know what the band will do next Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has admitted that he doesn't know what the future holds for the band. Speaking backstage at Australia's Splendour In The Grass 2009, Okereke confirmed that the band have no concrete plans on when their next album will be released, reports Triple J. The band's third and last LP, 'Intimacy', was released in 2008. "We don't know what the future holds," he said. "It's weird, we're out of contract now so... we might take a year off, we might take three years off.... we might never make a record again or we might head straight back in and do a record. We'll see how we feel come the end of this touring cycle." Bloc Party are set to release new single 'One More Chance' on August 10.

07-31-2009, 02:30 PM	#513
AtomicBono ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 10,486 Local Time: 02:06 AM	maybe they SHOULD take a break ... they seem to tour and record nonstop! Somehow, I'm not too worried about them never making a record again. I just don't think that will happen.

07-31-2009, 02:31 PM	#514
phanan Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: in the darkness on the edge of town Posts: 26,079 Local Time: 03:06 AM	I love how they take that part of the sentence, where he's really just saying anything, and make it a headline.

07-31-2009, 11:35 PM	#516
powerhour24 ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 11,646 Local Time: 03:06 AM	Kele's obviously grown and changed a lot since their start, but they seem cohesive and like they're all friends and having fun on stage every night, I would assume we haven't seen the last of them, but the past 2.5 years have been kind of nuts.

08-01-2009, 04:52 AM	#517
cobl04 45:33 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Point to Shaolin Posts: 58,498 Local Time: 05:06 PM	i don't know if it's this place's influence, probably is, but i was really digging intimacy there for a while, now i don't think it's all that great, aside from a couple of tracks. i went through a big bloc kick a while back, but haven't listened to them in a while. not a fan of the banal new single either. having said that i would have given absolutely anything to go to splendour...

08-02-2009, 05:14 AM	#518
intedomine Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 8,104 Local Time: 05:06 PM	This year's line up was rather average I thought.