Bloc Party

[FitzChivalry]

So far (of the ones I've read), Pitchfork seems to be the one one who outright dislikes the new album. DiS gave it a good review:

Bloc Party - Four / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound

[nielsgov]

Anthony Fantano's review is a nice listen and surprisingly positive. He also gives a nice overview of Bloc Party's history.

Bloc Party- Four ALBUM REVIEW- YouTube

[cobl04]

I hate myself when I watch his videos. I'm not really sure why.

[bono_212]

I refuse to watch his videos.

Also, I enjoyed this album, but I am not quite done figuring out my feelings about it yet.

[cobl04]

^I kind of feel the same. It's a bit like Nine Types of Light from last year in that it's all over the place and you've got ballads/softer songs being immediately followed by hard rocking songs.

So He Begins To Lie, Octopus, Day Four, V.A.L.I.S., Truth and The Healing are all good songs, Truth definitely being my favourite. Kettling has a great solo but the rest of it and 3x3, Coliseum and Team A are pretty forgettable.

Frustratingly the two bonus tracks, Mean and Leaf Skeleton, are both great. Get them if the copy you have doesn't have them.

[nielsgov]

Originally Posted by bono_212

I refuse to watch his videos.

Why? His reviews are mostly great though I wish he would review more well-known artists.

Real Talk, We're Not Good People and Team A are my favourites BTW.

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by nielsgov

Why? His reviews are mostly great though I wish he would review more well-known artists.

Yeah, I'm a fan of his. He is one of the few reviewers out there who gives you a clear impression of an album's sound rather than just waxing philosophical about it ad naseum.

Also, I need to hear this new Bloc Party album.

[LemonMelon]

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

Yeah, I'm a fan of his. He is one of the few reviewers out there who gives you a clear impression of an album's sound rather than just waxing philosophical about it ad naseum.

Perhaps one major benefit of video reviews right here. Masturbatory speech is a lot less common than masturbatory writing. I too really like his reviews; they have personality, and they get to the point. He has awful taste in hip-hop, but all critics have blind spots.

The second listen wasn't unkind to Four. I like this album.

[iron yuppie]

I also like the non-judgmental tone he has. Even when he assigns a negative grade, he almost always adds the qualifier that although he personally does not care for it, you might enjoy it if you like x or y.

[IWasBored]

I just find him annoying.

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

Yeah, I'm a fan of his. He is one of the few reviewers out there who gives you a clear impression of an album's sound rather than just waxing philosophical about it ad naseum.

Also, I need to hear this new Bloc Party album.

This is very true. I think they just make me feel like a enormous nerd. I already am but his videos make me self-conscious of my own nerdiness. I think I'll just shut up.

[cobl04]

Is Valis about Walter White?

He's into methylamphetamines
He's into science but he's lost his way

[GirlsAloudFan]

I don't know, but the song is catchy as fuck.

[bono_212]

Originally Posted by IWasBored

I just find him annoying.

I find most people who stare into a webcam and talk at the internet to be annoying. Just puts me off.


Anyways, listened to this again today. It's definitely growing on me quickly.

Kettling, Day Four, V.A.L.I.S. and Truth especially are great great songs. I like Octopus more than I did at first and So He Begins to Lie is great. Really I think the only thing on it I don't like is 3x3 and whichever song sounds like some screamo song.

[bono_212]

Never mind. 3X3 and the screamo song are the same song.

[IWasBored]

Originally Posted by bono_212

I find most people who stare into a webcam and talk at the internet to be annoying. Just puts me off.

Anyways, listened to this again today. It's definitely growing on me quickly.

Kettling, Day Four, V.A.L.I.S. and Truth especially are great great songs. I like Octopus more than I did at first and So He Begins to Lie is great. Really I think the only thing on it I don't like is 3x3 and whichever song sounds like some screamo song.

Staring into the camera talking, randomly echo-ing out certain words and that whole cal joke thing to make it look like you're not just a douche who stands in front of his camera espousing douchey opinions on music is possibly even more annoying than just standing in front of the camera. If I worked at a store that sold cameras, I'd probably get fired for looking at people and telling them, "no, you cannot buy this. You look like the type to set it up in your bedroom and make YouTube videos." Then I might tell them to go to the mall, or make them listen to walking on sunshine...or something.

Although I did watch his bloc party review video and the fact that he didn't think it was that amazing was the reason I bothered to check it out at all. I didn't go all cobbler, I actually have heard some bloc party before. And it was ok. But worlds busiest douche with a camera didn't like it too much, so I may just check it out. Pretty decent. But again, nothing I really care about hearing again. There seems to be a lot of that going on here, and I'm glad I don't make end of the year lists because I'd have to do three. Stuff I liked, stuff I hated, and stuff that was good but I didn't want to hear it again.

[cobl04]

I listened to this on the way into work this morning but all it achieved was putting Plans in my head all day. Which I don't mind, cos its a great song.

Originally Posted by IWasBored

If I worked at a store that sold cameras, I'd probably get fired for looking at people and telling them, "no, you cannot buy this. You look like the type to set it up in your bedroom and make YouTube videos."

[u2popmofo]

I still love Flux.

[Danny Boy]

Originally Posted by u2popmofo

I still love Flux.

[u2popmofo]

No, DB. No.