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Album Details

• Artist: Bloc Party
• Album: A Weekend In The City
• Label: Wichita
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: christopherdrew on 2007-01-31

Media

Bloc Party already have the odds stacked against them; 'Silent Alarm' became a massive commercial success at such a dizzying speed that they've already garnered a little animosity from the hipster crowd; and given that they were introduced to us by Vice, the avatar of the 'love-it-today-hate-it-tomorrow' school of thought, it's no wonder that there's a bit of a negative buzz surrounding this album. Faced with such glowering reception, most bands would probably pack it in and go back to their day jobs as mailroom clerks or bike messengers, happy to have made it as far as they had.
Not so with Bloc Party, who actually face such adversity head on. "Is it so wrong/to crave recognition...to want more/than what is given to you?" asks Kele Okereke on 'The Prayer', and tracks like 'Uniform' attack indie-cool outright, proving the band isn't afraid to bite the hand that feeds them (or gives them the finger, whichever might be the case); such fleeting concerns are dealt with and dismissed quite rapidly, though, as 'A Weekend In The City' is all about a band enjoying where they are and discovering how far they can push themselves. They've managed to rechannel the adolescent hyperactivity found on their debut and temper it a little, while managing to retain the urgency that caught your attention in the first place; they've filled out their sound, as it's less a mash-up of Fugazi-meets-The-Cure, instead reflecting an obvious comfort in their songwriting skills.
If there's a complaint here, it's that at times they sound a little too complacent; a few of these songs could be less-than-impressive outtakes from the previous album. Thankfully, though, the songs that do appeal are progressive enough to provide one with a richer listening experience.
Needless to say, they're going to lose some fans with this album; it's inevitable with any sophomore release, as there's always a delicate balance to be maintained between growing as artists and maintaining what made you special to begin with. 'A Weekend In The City' shows that Bloc Party are more than able to walk that tightrope.

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