11.14.08
It’s not for the cock, it’s for the (lack of) Intimacy.
Bloc Party-Intimacy
2005 was the year that saw many of today’s stadium dwelling indie bands start their rise to the epic fame and fortune they enjoy today. Among the more obvious future heavy hitters such as Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers and Arctics Monkeys were four geekily dressed and impressively skilled musicians fronted a talented performer and lyricist. Bloc Party were a less obvious band to explode into the mainstream because their debut ‘Silent Alarm’ was a subtle, intelligent album not just there for you average indie dancefloor. However, something in the undeniably catchy melodies and emotive lyrics caught on on a huge scale. Since that near perfect release we have seen the mediocre ‘A Weekend In The City’ which, although it had its moments, neither lyrically or musically lived up to it’s predecessor, and now we have ‘Intimacy’.
Like Kings Of Leon with their last two albums, Bloc Party have written a record to fill the venues they’ve been accustomed to playing and to flow happily in the ears that have some accustomed to hearing them on radio one, making it quite the opposite of what it’s title suggests. Sure, songs like ‘The Modern Love’ were perfectly atmospheric being played to 1000 people in a small, sweaty venue but arenas perhaps need something more and Bloc Party have brought electronica to the table. Sadly this means Tong’s expert drumming, along with the guitar’s and bass, is lost in a sea of messy bleeps, synths and frankly tacky vocal effects. First single ‘Mercury’ sounds like a second rate remix at best and is filled with embarrassingly non-sensical lyrics.
However, while the band haven’t managed to achieve what they’ve previously shown themselves to be capable of, not every song on the album is as disappointing as it’s first single may suggest. Current release, ‘Talons’, is a brilliantly aggressive track not too littered by electronics and manages to actually display some fierce guitar and should expect to receive a warm welcome at any indie disco. Amongst others ‘Halo’ continues the aggressive, fast-paced sound and, although the lyrics show no signs of returning to a former glory, is certainly a stand out track from ‘Intimacy’ due catchy guitar and an explosive instrumental break in the middle. And when the record it isn’t forcefully thrusting itself down your throat it’s slowing down to a rather pretty pace. Tracks like ‘Biko’ and ‘Signs’ tell stories of both love and heartache atop some softly babbling melodies and while these tracks are perhaps some of the most listenable of the album they do struggle to fit in amongst the barrage of other tracks screaming out for your attention.
So, while ‘Intimacy’ isn’t, and was never going to be, the album we wanted from Bloc Party it is definitely not the car crash ‘Mercury’ suggested it could of been. There are definitely hints at the band’s former brilliance but ultimately it is just one of those albums that you could quite easily take or leave.
Bloc Party Myspace
Gav said,
November 15, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I think the difference between Kings and Bloc Party is that KOL completely accept being big and have written some of their best songs which turn out to be massive anthems. Bloc party don’t seem to know what they want really..boring live these days as well.
Signs is a tune though.