Silent Alarm

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Silent Alarm
Silent Alarm cover
Studio album by Bloc Party
Released 2 February 2005
Recorded June–July 2004 at Deltalab Studios, Copenhagen; Miloco, Hoxton (London); The Exchange, London
Genre Indie rock, post-punk revival
Length 50:35
Label Wichita
Producer Paul Epworth
Professional reviews
Bloc Party chronology
Silent Alarm
(2005)		 A Weekend in the City
(2007)
Singles from Silent Alarm
  1. "So Here We Are/Positive Tension"
    Released: 31 January 2005
  2. "Banquet"
    Released: 25 April 2005
  3. "Pioneers"
    Released: 18 July 2005
  4. "Two More Years"
    Released: 3 October 2005 (on re-release)
  5. "Helicopter"
    Released: 21 February 2006 (U.S. only)

Silent Alarm is the debut studio album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was recorded in Copenhagen and London between June and July 2004 and was largely produced by Paul Epworth. It was released on 2 February 2005 in Japan through V2 Records and on 14 February 2005 in the British Isles on Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label. The record peaked at number three on both the UK Albums Chart and the Irish Albums Chart. In the United States, it achieved a peak of number 114 on the Billboard 200 and entered the Billboard Top Independent Albums at number seven.

Bloc Party's goal was to create a record that appealed to followers of different musical genres. Silent Alarm was crafted by chief lyricist Kele Okereke to examine the feelings and hopes of young adults about pertinent issues, including intimate relationships, transition to adulthood, and global politics. These themes are exemplified by the three singles: the double A-side "So Here We Are/Positive Tension", "Banquet", and "Pioneers". Later in 2005, the album was remixed as Silent Alarm Remixed and was expanded and re-released to coincide with Bloc Party's extensive worldwide touring schedule.

The record was well received by critics. Praise usually centred on its fast tempi and cathartic delivery. One reviewer stated that the tracks "re-iterate the uncontrollability of the modern condition",[1] while another commented that the album established Bloc Party as "the realists crashing the world's gala of delusion".[2] The record was generally treated as showcasing the potential high quality of British music. It was notably nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize and was named NME Album Of The Year the same year.

Contents

[edit] Background

In 2003, Bloc Party consisted of guitarists Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack, and bassist Gordon Moakes.[3] It was only after drummer Matt Tong auditioned and joined the trio that the band members' songwriting evolved and they started recording tracks for Silent Alarm.[4] Discussing the first demo song "She's Hearing Voices", Okereke has stated that the track "was really just a drum beat, which was something we couldn't do before because we relied on writing songs only with guitars".[4] The first demo was followed by the May 2004 release of a double A-side single, "Banquet/Staying Fat", and the distribution of the Bloc Party EP.[5] Gen Williams of Drowned in Sound noted that, at the time, the band were playing in an unambitious style that was moulded around alternative rock bands Sonic Youth and The Strokes.[6] Bloc Party persevered with their work and continued the evolution of their songwriting in a hired recording space in Acton, west London.[5]

The band received a contract offer from Parlophone after successful radio performances,[6] including one at BBC Radio 1 where "She's Hearing Voices" was labelled "genius" by DJ Steve Lamacq.[7] They turned the offer down because they did not want to be on a major record label and instead opted to sign a recording contract with east London independent label Wichita Recordings.[6] The band members chose Wichita because the label was the most enthusiastic about their work and did not want to stamp its own agenda on the record's conception.[8] Frontman and chief writer Okereke wanted Silent Alarm to emphasise the importance of finding pleasure in small mundane things, because "those are the sort of things that can be incredibly touching".[9] The album was borne out of "a nagging youthful urgency" and the realisation that responsibility has to be taken for the first time as a young adult.[9] Before the recording sessions, Okereke attended singing lessons to open up his voice.[8]

[edit] Studio sessions

There is a real sense of space and atmosphere that you will hear in a techno-house style [but] you will not hear in a three-minute guitar pop song. It is a very difficult thing to try to put the two together without sounding lame. We are excited by it. The two songs "Positive Tension" and "She's Hearing Voices" are examples of what we [were] trying to do.[10]
—Kele Okereke, on Bloc Party's goal during the recording of Silent Alarm

In June and July 2004, Bloc Party attended studio sessions in London and Copenhagen to finalise the recording of Silent Alarm.[11] The band recorded fifteen tracks in 22 days;[5] all of the songs were written before they entered the studio, but Okereke has noted that "it is a creative process and you have to let yourself be inspired while you're in the studio as well".[4] The record was produced by Paul Epworth, famous for his work with The Futureheads.[12] He was chosen because of his forward-leaning style, which separates a band's elements by accentuating the bass in the mix and by allowing the guitarists space to improvise.[12] The band members usually had a preliminary idea about a track's rhythm, but did not know how songs were going to start or end.[4] Okereke often asked Tong to play something on the drums, which inspired him to add guitar chords to the beat and start crafting a track.[4]

The band's priority was not to make the songs dance-aligned; rather, they wanted to subvert rock clichés by making them sonically interesting.[13] The quartet believed that 21st-century rock music could only survive if people started "mixing styles that aren't supposed to be together".[10] Okereke has suggested that forward-thinking rock bands like Radiohead reach a plateau and start to question the boundaries of their medium; this leads to an exploration of elements from other genres.[10] Bloc Party set out to explore the idea of merging genres in their debut album, rather than in their later work.[10] They crafted the record to appeal to R&B, electro, and pop fans, on top of their core indie rock fanbase.[13]

Paul Epworth's bass-oriented production was key to creating a universally-appealing album and was also used as a musical background to the lyrics.[14] In an interview with Bloc Party, Charlotte Cripps of The Independent suggested that the songs were crafted to balance dark lyrics with uplifting melodies.[10] Okereke agreed and explained that they try to make clear an existential pointlessness in life.[10] He called the final version of Silent Alarm "technicolour" because of its stylistic choices and indicated that the band achieved their aim of making the songs sound "better and bigger" when they were recorded in the studio.[4][15] Moakes later pointed out that the band members were relative novices when they entered the recording sessions, and that for the most part they only did what they were told; this is an additional reason why the album is disjunct and not focused on any particular musical style.[14]

[edit] Promotion and release

Bloc Party on stage at Manchester Academy 3 on 29 January 2005 as part of the NME Awards Tour in support of the February 2005 release of Silent Alarm

The release of Silent Alarm was preceded by the marketing of Little Thoughts EP in Japan in December 2004.[16] The EP contained two previous UK singles: the double A-side "Little Thoughts/Tulips",[5] and "Helicopter", which later appeared on the album.[17] Bloc Party commenced promotional touring in January 2005, ahead of the Japanese and European February releases.[18] They performed on the NME Awards Tour at venues in the UK.[19] "Tulips" was released from Little Thoughts EP in the U.S. on 25 January 2005.[20] The first single from the album, "So Here We Are/Positive Tension", was released on 31 January and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart.[19] Between 31 January and 4 February, the band appeared at promotional gigs and autograph signing sessions at UK HMV stores.[19]

Silent Alarm was released in Japan on 2 February 2005.[21] The album's name comes from an article in New Scientist about an early detection system for earthquakes in Japan and was chosen because the record has a sense of disquiet.[13] The cover art is based on a bare winter landscape by freelance photographer Ness Sherry.[11] The album achieved gold certification within 24 hours of its European release on 14 February.[22][23] It went on to be certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry after more than 500,000 copies were sold in the UK.[24]

Bloc Party followed the album's release with a short European promotional tour in early March 2005.[25] Between 17 March and 9 April, they undertook their first ever headlining U.S. tour; this was to coincide with the American release of Silent Alarm through Vice Records on 22 March 2005.[22] The tour began with performances at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, and ended in Washington, DC.[22] With minimal radio support, the record became Vice's best-selling release in the label's history.[24] According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album sold 280,000 copies in the U.S by January 2007.[26] Over one million copies have been sold worldwide.[27]

[edit] Critical reviews

Media response to Silent Alarm was highly favourable; aggregating website Metacritic reported a normalised rating of 82% in March 2005 based on 32 critical reviews.[28] Gen Williams of Drowned in Sound described the album as mature and expansive and noted how "the autonomy, creativity and sheer, elastic beauty that spans this debut more than justifies the rapidly accelerating hype that Bloc Party are currently generating".[6] Rolling Stone's Barry Walters explained that the tracks are emotive and rhythmic in equal measure and summed the record up as "dance rock, but highly caffeinated".[29] All of these positive comments were encapsulated by Nick Southall of Stylus who gave the album a maximum rating of A+ by indicating that every song is full of thrilling ideas and inspired moments.[30]
"Banquet"
The syncopated forward rhythm found in single "Banquet" was often compared to the work of 1980's New Wave bands and contemporary post-punk revival bands. The song is typical of Silent Alarm's staccato guitar style. It also illustrates Paul Epworth's understated use of electronic studio effects.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

IGN Music's Spence D. stated, "The album jerks you awake from the very first atonal strumming of the guitar, which reverberates like a bunch of punch drunk wasps on the attack, the skirling drum beat kicking in with just the right amount of sluggery before Okereke's plaintive wail/croon lurches into the mix."[31] Heather Phares of Allmusic labelled it as a record with "a lot of passion and polish".[32] The Guardian's Alexis Petridis gave the album three stars out of five, one of the lowest ratings that it received from notable publications, and commented that the "reedy vocals and lyrical evocations of suburban ennui ... induce a worrying ennui of their own".[33] Mojo pointed out that the record is flawed, but gave a favourable rating by noting that it is an ambitious and melodic piece of work.[34]

Rolling Stone claimed that the album is similar to the debut album from fellow British band Franz Ferdinand.[29] Pitchfork Media's Nitsuh Adebe noted particular similarities between "Banquet" and Franz Ferdinand's debut single "Take Me Out" and called both songs "wonderfully tight and energetic—the same kind of spiffy half-dancing rock".[15] However, Allmusic suggested that Bloc Party are more comfortable making lyrical proclamations than their contemporaries Franz Ferdinand or The Futureheads.[32] Imran Ahmed of NME concluded, "Silent Alarm is no Franz Ferdinand. In fact, listen to it with the words 'popular' and 'arty' in mind and its spirit is closer to the Manic Street Preachers' The Holy Bible."[35]

[edit] Lyrics and composition

Silent Alarm does not contain a solitary lyrical centre; rather, it observes people's lives and is a basic snapshot of the band members' feelings in 2004.[10][36] Okereke wanted the album to leave individual listeners space to make their own conclusions.[36] Leading track "Like Eating Glass" is one of the simplest on the album and contains a forward rhythm, conventional guitar hooks, a jittery composition, and subtle studio effects.[15] The drum track for the song was deliberately mixed louder than usual to add emphasis to the opening of the record.[30] The song references feelings of alienation about living in modern-day Britain, highlighted in the oft-repeated line "It's so cold in this house".[35]

The following track, "Helicopter", has a quick tempo of 171 beats per minute and is said to be about the band members' anger at George W. Bush and his administration's foreign policy.[35][37] Okereke has refuted these comments and has announced that it is frustrating when people incorrectly attribute ideas to certain songs.[36] Nick Southall of Stylus stated that it was both "a searing, desperate indictment of political regimes that shall remain nameless" and "a damnation of inactive wishful thinking when you could and should be doing something".[30] The next song, "Positive Tension", is a portrayal of angst about being a romantic human being in a detached world.[1] It begins with a solitary bassline and builds up pace, first with a rhythmic drumming pattern, and then with a guitar solo towards the end.[37] The lyrics portray a level of desperation, especially in the pained vocal delivery of the line "Why'd you have to get ... so fucking useless".[1]

Bloc Party performing "This Modern Love" at Mean Fiddler (Astoria 2), London, on 25 January 2006

Second single "Banquet" is typical of Silent Alarm's energetic staccato guitar work and of Bloc Party's earnest lyrical evocations.[32] The track involves lead guitar and rhythm guitar playing in syncopation with each other in a style akin to 1980s New Wave band Duran Duran.[15] "Blue Light" brings a sudden change of pace from the first four tracks on the album by having a slower tempo and a crescendo towards the end.[32] The lyrics have a tender personal nature and detail the aftermath of a failed relationship.[32] "She's Hearing Voices", a song with a drum track at its base,[2] has a sound reminiscent of the tribal pop rhythms of glam punk band Adam and the Ants.[31] It is a reworked version of the track that appeared on the Bloc Party EP and includes additional studio effects and a removal of the original version's "tinny" sound.[6] The lyrics in the chorus, "Red pill / Blue pill / Milk of amnesia", are about a friend of Okereke's who used to take medication after suffering from schizophrenia.[3]

The next track, "This Modern Love", is unusual because, while being a love song,[30] it shares the same fast tempo as "Helicopter".[37] The song begins with guitars in an upbeat style before harmonic vocals enter the mix.[2][31] Third single "Pioneers" opens with a series of delayed guitar harmonics on the lead.[37] The lyrics detail the ridiculous duality of hopelessness and optimism in life through an intense composition in the mould of dance-punk songs.[35] Heather Phares of Allmusic suggested that it was anti-war and entirely political; she also pointed out the preciseness of the lyrics in "Price of Gas", in particular the chant "War / War / War / War", and contrasted this to the subtlety of other anti-war songs on the album.[32] The track has a musical construction in the mould of 2 Tone ska band The Specials and dance-punk band Le Tigre.[6] The song's marching-like tempo is created by Paul Epworth's looped and layered drum machine pattern.[37]

The tenth track on Silent Alarm, "So Here We Are", deals with intimate relationships and includes layers of guitar that build up to a peak in volume towards the end.[31] The album builds up pace with "Luno", a song about the pains of rejection and betrayal,[31] which begins with thirty-two bars of bass guitar and drums on their own.[37] The following song, "Plans", is a slower affair and uses effects such as flanging and a synthesiser during the chorus.[37] The song has ambiguous lyrics that makes use of Gothic fiction metaphors, for example "I've got a taste for blood" and "The ravens are leaving the tower".[38] The final track on the original record release, "Compliments", has a sound similar to Ultra-era Depeche Mode due to the many musical effects that are used throughout the song.[6] The track incorporates an electronic drum kit and an extensive use of reverberation.[35][37]

[edit] Tours and supporting releases

Bloc Party in concert at The Warfield, San Francisco, on 21 September 2005 as part of their second promotional U.S. tour of 2005

Silent Alarm charted in eighteen countries on four different continents by the end of April 2005.[10] Bloc Party toured in Japan with The Rakes at the start of May 2005 and completed a promotional headlining tour of the U.S. in June 2005.[39][40] The band played their first ever dates in Australia in July 2005, including a performance at the Splendour in the Grass Festival.[41][42] The whole of August was spent touring on the European festivals circuit to promote the forthcoming remix album, Silent Alarm Remixed, which includes all the tracks on Silent Alarm as reworked by notable artists such as Ladytron, Death From Above 1979, and Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs.[41][43] The record was released on 29 August 2005 in anticipation of a final UK single, "Two More Years", and the UK re-release of Silent Alarm in October 2005.[43][44] It followed Bloc Party's headlining slots at the Reading and Leeds Festivals on 26–28 August.[41]

The band members embarked on their second major worldwide tour in September 2005.[45] They played several dates in U.S. cities and in Toronto, Canada, between 8 and 24 September 2005.[45] Another headlining UK tour followed during the whole of October,[41] which started at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange and ended with two dates at the Brixton Academy in London.[45] Silent Alarm was re-released in the UK on 17 October 2005 with two bonus tracks: "Little Thoughts" and "Two More Years".[44] It contained a bonus DVD, God Bless Bloc Party, which included Bloc Party's two June 2005 performances and backstage footage at the El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles.[46] Dan McIntosh of PopMatters stated that the concert documentary shows that the band "can consistently pull off its material live", but concluded that it focuses on Bloc Party "much too intently, far too soon".[46]

[edit] Awards and nominations

Silent Alarm was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize, but was beaten by Antony and the Johnsons' second album I Am a Bird Now.[47] It was shortlisted for the New Pantheon Music Award (Shortlist Music Prize) in 2005, but lost out to Sufjan Stevens' fifth album Illinois.[48] The record was named Album Of The Year for 2005 by NME ahead of Arcade Fire's debut album Funeral,[49] while URB included it in its alphabetical shortlist of the best albums of 2005.[50] It also figured highly in other end-of-year best album lists, notably, at number two by Stylus, at number four by Drowned in Sound, at number six by Spin, and at number seven by Los Angeles Times.[50] It was named Album Of The Year for 2005 by Intro in Germany and by Rumore in Italy.[51][52] Ireland's Hot Press and Poland's Screenagers placed it at number two in their respective editorial staff lists.[53][54]

Silent Alarm earned Bloc Party several award nominations, including Best Alternative Act at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards,[55] Best British Band at the 2006 NME Awards,[56] and Artist Of The Year at the 2006 PLUG Awards.[57] The record itself won Indie Rock Album Of The Year at the 2006 PLUG Awards.[57] It was also nominated as Best Album at the 2006 NME Awards,[56] and as Album Of The Year at the 2006 PLUG Awards.[57] NME placed it at number 55 in its 100 Greatest British Albums Ever! list compiled in 2006.[58] The record came in at number three in Drowned in Sound's editorial staff list of their 66 favourite albums of 2000–2006.[59]

[edit] Track listing

All songs written and composed by Bloc Party.

# Title Length
1. "Like Eating Glass"   4:22
2. "Helicopter"   3:40
3. "Positive Tension"   3:55
4. "Banquet"   3:21
5. "Blue Light"   2:47
6. "She's Hearing Voices"   3:29
7. "This Modern Love"   4:25
8. "Pioneers"   3:35
9. "Price of Gas"   4:19
10. "So Here We Are"   3:52
11. "Luno"   3:57
12. "Plans"   4:10
13. "Compliments"   4:43
  • Tracks 8 and 9 were mislabelled on pressings of the album as "The Pioneers" and "Price of Gasoline" because of a printing error.[60]

[edit] Bonus tracks

  • "Every Time Is the Last Time" – 3:10 – track 0 (pregap) on the UK and U.S. editions and after track 13 on the European edition.
  • "Little Thoughts" – 3:30 – track 10 on the U.S. edition and track 14 on the UK re-release.
  • "Two More Years" – 4:28 – track 15 on the UK re-release.
  • "So Here We Are (Four Tet Remix)" – 6:28 – track 14 on the Japanese edition.
  • "Plans (Mogwai Remix)" – 3:43 – track 15 on the Japanese edition.
  • "Pioneers (M83 Remix)" / "Every Time Is the Last Time" – 14:09 – track 16 on the Japanese edition.

[edit] Additional formats

[edit] Vinyl

  • There were two UK LP copies of Silent Alarm distributed by Wichita: a standard black vinyl copy in a gatefold sleeve,[61] and a limited edition picture disc version which has the album cover printed on Side A and the track listings printed on Side B.[62]
  • The U.S. LP issue was distributed by Dim Mak Records.[63] It comprises of two limited edition 12" records which additionally contain a track listing for "Every Time Is the Last Time" on Side A, the appearance of "Little Thoughts" on Side C, and the following bonus tracks on Sides E and F:
    • "Positive Tension (Jason Clark Remix)" – 4:22 – track E1
    • "Positive Tension (Johnny Whitney Remix)" – 3:59 – track E2
    • "Price of Gas (Automato Remix)" – 4:42 – track F1
    • "Price of Gas (Jus Ske Remix)" – 3:17 – track F2

[edit] DVD

  • A CD with an extra DVD was released in the UK and Europe in February 2005 at the same time as the normal CD version.[64] The DVD contains:

Bloc Party live at Heaven nightclub, London, on 14 December 2004

  1. Positive Tension
  2. Banquet
  3. So Here We Are
  4. She's Hearing Voices
  • A new version of the CD with an extra DVD was released in the UK in October 2005.[65] The DVD, titled God Bless Bloc Party, contains:

A. U.S. tour documentary at El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles
B. Bloc Party live at the Eurockéennes Festival, Belfort, France on 1 July 2005

  1. Like Eating Glass
  2. Banquet
  3. Blue Light
  4. Luno
  5. Little Thoughts

C. Music videos

  1. Banquet (2004)
  2. Little Thoughts
  3. Tulips
  4. Helicopter
  5. So Here We Are
  6. Banquet (2005)
  7. Pioneers
  8. Two More Years
  9. Banquet (The Streets Mix)
  • God Bless Bloc Party was released as a stand-alone DVD in the U.S. on 17 January 2006 by Vice, but did not include the music videos.[46]

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Band

[11]

[edit] Production

[11]

[edit] Release history

Region Date Label Format(s) Catalog
Japan 2 February 2005 V2 Records CD V2CP-205[21]
United Kingdom and Ireland 14 February 2005 Wichita Recordings CD, digital download, CD+DVD, LP WEBB075[11]
Europe 14 February 2005 V2 Records CD, CD+DVD VVR1030562[64]
United States 22 March 2005 Vice Records CD, digital download VICE 93815[66]
12 April 2005 Dim Mak Records LP DM 080[63]
United Kingdom and Ireland 17 October 2005 Wichita Recordings CD+DVD (new edition) WEBB075B[65]

[edit] Chart positions

[edit] Album

Chart (2005) Peak[a]
UK Albums Chart 3
Irish Albums Chart 3
Billboard 200 (U.S.) 114
Billboard Top Independent Albums (U.S.) 7
Billboard Top Heatseekers (U.S.) 3
Australian Albums Chart 30
Austrian Albums Chart 52
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) 14
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia) 39
Finnish Albums Chart 18
French Albums Chart 14
Japanese Albums Chart 23
Netherlands Albums Chart 51
New Zealand Albums Chart 36
Norwegian Albums Chart 20
Swedish Albums Chart 11
Swiss Albums Chart 80

[edit] Singles

Song Peak[a]
UK Singles Chart
 Hot Modern Rock Tracks (U.S.)
"So Here We Are/Positive Tension" 5 —
"Banquet" 13 34
"Pioneers" 18 —
"Two More Years" 7 —
"Helicopter" X —

"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
"X" denotes song not released in a particular country.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Dellow, Tim (31 January 2005). "Bloc Party – 'Silent Alarm' (Wichita)". Rockfeedback. http://www.rockfeedback.com/article.asp?nObjectID=2873. Retrieved on 22 January 2009. 
  2. ^ a b c Lundy, Zeth (18 March 2005). "Bloc Party: Silent Alarm". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/b/blocparty-silent.shtml. Retrieved on 22 January 2009. 
  3. ^ a b McLean, Craig (7 January 2007). "21st-century boy". The Observer. p. 14 of The Observer Magazine insert. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f "An Interview With Bloc Party". FREEwilliamsburg. 22 March 2005. http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/archives/2005/03/an_interview_wi_3.html. Retrieved on 10 April 2009. 
  5. ^ a b c d "Bloc Party". Moshi Moshi Records. http://www.moshimoshimusic.com/artists/bloc-party. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Williams, Gen (14 January 2005). "Bloc Party: Silent Alarm". Drowned in Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3170/reviews/10964. Retrieved on 10 February 2009. 
  7. ^ "Club Velocity – February 2004: Bands". BBC. 12 February 2004. http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/music/2004/02/clubvelocity.shtml. Retrieved on 25 March 2009. 
  8. ^ a b Moeller, Sean (Spring 2005). "Bloc Party [Interview]". Skyscraper. p. 71. 
  9. ^ a b Heawood, Sophie (September 2005). "Brain Bloc". Time Out. p. 8. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Cripps, Charlotte (27 April 2005). "Rock around the Bloc". The Independent. p. 49. 
  11. ^ a b c d e (2005) Album notes for Silent Alarm by Bloc Party [CD booklet (page 2) and case back cover]. London: Wichita Recordings.
  12. ^ a b Yates, Steve (5 August 2005). "Producer power". Collective (BBC). http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A4757231. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  13. ^ a b c Jonze, Tim (15 January 2005). "The Facts Of '05". NME. p. 27. 
  14. ^ a b Lanz, Michelle (Spring 2007). "Bloc Party: No More Working For The Weekend". Helio. p. 37. 
  15. ^ a b c d Adebe, Nitsuh (14 February 2005). "Bloc Party: Silent Alarm". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15854-bloc-party-silent-alarm. Retrieved on 6 February 2009. 
  16. ^ "Little Thoughts (Single) (Import): Bloc Party". Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Little-Thoughts-Bloc-Party/dp/B000657LWO. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  17. ^ "Helicopter (Single): Bloc Party". Amazon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helicopter-Bloc-Party/dp/B00067ZPNO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245755952&sr=8-3. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  18. ^ Webb, Rob (26 January 2005). "The Futureheads, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, and The Killers; Venue: Rock City, Nottingham". Drowned in Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/gigs/663/reviews/11166. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  19. ^ a b c "Bloc Bookings!". NME. 12 January 2005. http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/18941. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  20. ^ "Tulips (Single) (Enhanced): Bloc Party". Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Tulips-Bloc-Party/dp/B000784XAI. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  21. ^ a b (Japanese) "サイレント・アラーム: ブロック・パーティー (Silent Alarm: Bloc Party)". Oricon. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=578738&samecd=1. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  22. ^ a b c "Party Season In America". NME. 2 February 2005. http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/19114. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  23. ^ Davis, Johnny (June 2005). "Blues Brothers". Q. p. 62. 
  24. ^ a b Garrity, Brian (13 January 2007). "Second Time Around The Bloc". Billboard / allbusiness.com. http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4580474-1.html. Retrieved on 9 April 2009. 
  25. ^ "Bloc Party/Mystery Jets/Chromeo/Battle : London Kentish Town Forum". NME. 31 March 2005. http://www.nme.com/reviews/bloc-party/7637. Retrieved on 20 June 2009. 
  26. ^ Garrity, Brian (7 January 2007). "UK rockers Bloc Party seeking U.S. breakthrough". Billboard / Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0629397220070107. Retrieved on 9 April 2009. 
  27. ^ Baal, Iphgenia (January 2007). "Disappear here". Dazed & Confused. p. 73. 
  28. ^ "Silent Alarm by Bloc Party". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/blocparty/silentalarm?q=Bloc%20Party. Retrieved on 6 February 2009. 
  29. ^ a b Walters, Barry (24 March 2005). "Bloc Party: Silent Alarm". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/7161945/review/7197134/silentalarm. Retrieved on 10 February 2009. 
  30. ^ a b c d Southall, Nick (14 February 2005). "Bloc Party: Silent Alarm". Stylus. http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2746. Retrieved on 11 February 2009. 
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  62. ^ "Silent Alarm UK LP Picture Disc". Esprit International. http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=385723. Retrieved on 30 June 2009. 
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[edit] Chart archives

^ All retrieved on 20 June 2009.

[edit] External links

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Bloc Party
Russell Lissack · Gordon Moakes · Kele Okereke · Matt Tong
Studio albums
Silent Alarm · A Weekend in the City · Intimacy
Remix albums
EPs
Singles
Related articles
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