Banquet by The Bloc Party
February 18, 2005 | 
16 Comments
The Artist: The Bloc Party
The Song: Banquet
The Album: Silent Alarm
Released 2005
Recommended if you like: Interpol, The Stills, Stone Roses, Idlewild, The Cure, Radiohead
In the next few weeks before SXSW I’ll be featuring bands that will be playing at the festival to give those that are going to be there a bit of a taste of what’s to come, and to give a little tease to those who aren’t going to make it.
First up is my favorite band of the moment, The Bloc Party. These guys are one of the great indie-crossover bands that keep popping up. Think The Futureheads, The Sills and The Arcade Fire. They’re a bit more, well, “polished” than some of those bands though. While they do have an edge, and I’d not consider them “better” than those bands these guys have the hooks and accessibility that could lead them further into the mainstream. Much like, say, a Franz Ferdinand.
In fact, I can’t seem to escape them, as I’m writing this I’m listening to the new Chemical Brothers and a familiar voice pops up on one of the tracks, “Believe”, and sure enough it’s Kele Okereke from The Bloc Party!
In any case, the first song I heard by The Bloc Party, on my favorite radio station, the great KEXP, was “Modern Love.” It’s a kind of cure-ish, pop-ballad, all sicky sweet chorus and dreamy melodies. It’s a great track, and piqued my interest, but isn’t all that representative of the rest of the album.
Much of Silent Alarm is a bit more upbeat, but there is lots of variety in there. It’s got straightforward rock songs, a few slower ballads and some head-boppin’, feet shufflin’, dancey tunes as well. The vocals are tight, the production very slick (maybe too slick?) and it’s fairly obvious they’re the kind of band who’d put on a great show.
If you cut through to the meat of The Bloc Party, they’re a very good rock band with a bit of flair.
In a way they remind me of the manchester bands of the 90s. The Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, EMF, etc. remember them? They were Brit-pop gods that stormed the US back in the early nineties and shortly after seemed to fall off the face of the earth as far as popular music was concerned. I still rock “Fool’s Gold” by Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays will always be one of my favorites.
Silent Alarm is, put very simply, a great rock/pop album. It’s an album you’ll love at first listen and will enjoy for quite awhile. Does it have the staying power of a classic? Will you still have it in heavy rotation a year from now? Maybe not, but you’ll still get a smile on your face when iTunes pops “Banquet”—this week’s song—into your party shuffle.
Filed under: Song of The Week
Comments
1. Mathias Bynens said:
Banquet is the only song on this album that’s really good. Since I bought Silent Alarm because of Banquet, I was a bit disappointed.
Posted on February 19, 2005 02:03 AM | #
2. Sam said:
You’re right - they are good live! Photos on my Flickr photoset at http://www.flickr.com/photos/samstarling
Posted on February 19, 2005 04:23 AM | #
3. Keith said:
Mathias – I like quite a few songs one the album actually. Maybe you should give it another listen? ;)
Sam – I’m actually really stoked to see them at SXSW.
Posted on February 19, 2005 12:47 PM | #
4. Colly said:
Ah, my Single of the year from 2004 (whatever that means). My colleagues have been playing it on DJ duties across Nottingham for a few months. Pure genius.
In fact, UK music is looking rosy at the mo. Check out the Kaiser Chiefs, the new Doves album, Mylo etc…
Bloc Party are, as you say, simply great.
Posted on February 20, 2005 06:56 AM | #
5. Mike Stenhouse said:
Funny you should mention Franz Ferdinand… Legend has it that Bloc Party were signed after they sent their demo to FF who passed it on to the right people because they loved it.
One tragic omission from Silent Alarm is Little Thoughts. It’s my favourite Bloc Party track and I have no idea why it’s not on the record. Also worth tracking down is the Minotaur Shock remix of Tulips, which turned up on the Helicopter EP. Oh, and the Phones remix of Banquet is great too. Incidentally, Phones is the guy who engineered the Futureheads album so watch out for more from him…
Geek at all?!
Posted on February 20, 2005 07:38 AM | #
6. Dragan Babic said:
A great band most definitely.
Unfortunately I have heard of them only just a few months ago. Verry cool.
I still can’t get enough of that cover design. :)
Posted on February 20, 2005 01:21 PM | #
7. JAbbott said:
Thanks for the recommendation. Not sure how I managed to miss this. Sounds great. I loved 80s new wave (for lack of a better term) back in the 80s. I definitely like the 80s revival stuff (or whatever you want to call it). That label probably discredits it somewhat.
Posted on February 21, 2005 09:05 AM | #
8. monkeyinabox said:
Silent Alarm has been a favorite of mine as well. Good stuff.
Posted on February 21, 2005 11:24 AM | #
9. Abel Rios said:
Definitely worth the listen. Heard the ToTW, and ran straight to the store. Very nice, and well worth the purchase.
Posted on February 22, 2005 06:53 AM | #
10. Brad said:
That’s great. I’m not quite sure how I missed these guys either but thanks for pointing them out.
Posted on February 23, 2005 05:40 PM | #
11. Gunhild Pedersen said:
I agree, Mathias. I was also a bit disappointed by the album, because when I heard Banquet for the first time, I instantly loved it! Suppose I expected the album to be off the walls…! It`s good, but it`s not my album of the year ;)
Posted on March 1, 2005 01:38 AM | #
12. Rosie said:
not quite sure how anyone can be dissapointed with the album, i cant get over how superb it is, must say i’ve been a huge bloc fan from their early days, (by the way they’re link to FF isnt quite like that though) if ur underwhelmed i recommend u give it another chance, im sure you will come to your senses and love it!
Posted on March 5, 2005 03:16 PM | #
13. Max said:
you have to give the album lots of listens. At first I didn’t like Positive Tension but after a few listens, I really think it’s one of the best tracks. same with like eating glass.
they’re much better than Franz “one song” ferdinand anyway.
Posted on March 7, 2005 04:55 AM | #
14. Gunhild Pedersen said:
I do not understand why you guys can compare Bloc Party to FF! They suck! ;)
Posted on March 8, 2005 06:37 AM | #
15. Mitch McAlister said:
My favorite track is #1 Like Eating Glass. I think this band is really gonna hit huge though, and we’re all gonna get sick of hearing it on the radio ALL THE TIME. Let’s hope this podcast thing can provide a solution to the monotony of the mainstream radio.
Posted on March 18, 2005 09:26 AM | #
16. joeman said:
Bloc Party band is great…I love there tunes Banquet, Like eating glass, Tulip etc. great tunes. These guys are true definition of another great band waiting to be discoverred by more people. I can’t get enough of them.
Posted on March 19, 2005 07:41 AM | #
Comments are now closed