Silent Alarm, Bloc Party’s debut album, was released in 2005 by Witchita Recordings and was well-received internationally by critics and new fans alike. The British foursome proved early on in their career that they could blend genres, create a new type of experimental sound, and still somehow manage to appeal a variety of people.
The album teems with rhythm and steady upbeat tempos that are hard to stop listening to. The songs manage to sound thoughtful and pensive but can be danced to without having an overly electronic sound. The consistency of the music throughout the release can either make people love it or hate it. With most CDs, there is usually “that one fast song” and “that one slow song,” but Bloc Party doesn’t try to please varying preferences for one or the other. The fluidity of each song going into the next is enough for someone to be able to either enjoy the album as a cohesive whole, or to perhaps "just listen to that one song."
The lyrics are personal yet ambiguous. Lead vocalist Kele Okereke states that this allows for the listeners to interpret them for themselves and take what they can get out of the songs on their own. They do, however, have underlying political messages that make it very clear as to where they stand on the political spectrum. “Helicopter,” for instance, is widely believed to refer to America’s ex-president George W. Bush when they sing “He doesn’t like chocolate…he’s born a liar, he’ll die a liar...some things will never be different…just like his dad, just like his dad.”
Regardless of where the listeners’ beliefs lie in terms of politics, this album is one that most people can agree upon. Its subtle experimentalism is accessible and will either soothe or energize you.
Flows really naturally and you hit a lot of key points - band history, feel of the album, lyrics, etc.
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