A Weekend in the City

Unpredictable Bloc Party

When Bloc Party’s debut album Silent Alarm was released in 2005, it was clear that a new sensation was born at the world rock scene. Influenced by the best collectives of the XX and XXI century, the band has captured everyboody with unforgettable lyrics sung against the accompanement of a stunning dance-rock. Evidently front man Kele Okereke, guitarist Russel Lissak, bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong have never doubted their abilities. Yet little could forsee what the follow-up would be like, and this year the guys have really prepared something special. Completely different from the first record, album A Weekend In The City prompts that the band has got a potential much greater than many could think of. The main features of Bloc Party’s new album are doubtless darker and more varied sounding and this time the work reminds rather of more expansive groups such as U2 and Radiohead. Produced by Garret "Jacknife" Lee A Weekend In The City amazes with frank up-to-date lyrics and a new look at the most topical issues.

Multilayer and integral A Weekend In The City

The main things you notice after the first listening of A Weekend In The City is the way the tracks are mutually connected and the difference between the first and the second parts of the album. If at the beginning we are demolished by a stream of rage, despair and anger, during the second part the band turns to global questions and somewhat relaxes the pressure. The opener Song For Clay (Disappear Here) sets the powerful tone of the whole album and prepares the listeners for the following tense track Hunting For Witches. The song makes a thorogh study of the most serious problems of nowadays including terrorism and calls everybody to hunt for witches, that is to do something about the evil surrounding us. The character of song Waiting For The 7.18 makes an attempt to escape the reality, with the drums and outrageous guitars expressing his unbearable torments, and contrasting it the first single Prayer gives one the blues and opression. One of the most impressive compositions on A Weekend In The City is pessimistic Uniform, dwelling on the absence of individualism among the youth. The issue of racism is presented in Where Is Home?, and another single I Still Remember gives a chance to think of love at a different angle. Multilayer and integral at the same time, A Weekend In The City holds your attention throughout all the 11 tracks.

Grandiose prospects

What makes people like a band? There is always something beyond all musical skills, attractive appearances and production – energy most likely. No matter what mood music arouses, it is going to be a success if it manages to charge the audience with energy. Bloc Party, apart from each of the members’ talents possesses the quality and it serves them half the battle. A grand leap has been made between the debut and the second work and unless the musicians lose their desire to go on rocking they are positively on the way to remain in the annals of the rock history for good. Young age and rebellious character pushes them to write provocative and to some extent accusatory texts combining them with practically flawless playing. In spite of that A Weekend In The City is only the second album and things can be quite different in future, we can already speak of grandiose prospects awaiting the band and that due to all its advantages it serves as a brilliant example to a huge number of beginning collectives.