Bloc Party’s album, “Intimacy” was release in 2008 and is just that, intimate. The subject matter flutters around personal relationships and is loosely based on the front mans break up of 2007. This is an album complied of songs that were obviously written and composed with compassion and great detail. More prevalent in “Intimacy” than any of the other albums from the band is the electronical and orchestral elements, such as violins, cellos, and basses. These elements combined create a feeling of melancholy and intimacy for those who emerse themselves in it. With this album the band strived to break away from the traditional rock pop band cliché.
The first song on the album “Ares” opens with an eerie yearning sound then breaks into what seems like a predictable Bloc Party song. One great thing about this song is that it ends with a melody that is similar to the beginning of the next song “Mercury”. The songs flow smoothly into each other and “Mercury” introduces the electronical and orchestral elements mentioned before. “Halo” and “Trojan Horse” introduce the new Bloc Party with the comfort of the old Bloc Party with songs like “Banquet” and “Blue Light”. The two best songs of the album are “Signs” and “Better Than Heaven”, they represent the entire emotional spectrum experience through this album. Anxiety, intimacy, frustration, and longing are the emotions most relevant. With lyrics from “Signs” such as “the last time we slept together, something just was not there” and “I can sleep forever these days, cause in my dreams I see you again” just pierce the heart with pain and the violins don’t help. “Better Than Heaven” has more of an upbeat rhythm but such dreary lyrics done in a wonderful almost techno’y style. It almost masks the meaning of the lyrics, which is fine if you are trying to forget about everything and just dance. But its good to know that Bloc Party is deeper than that, and it definitely shows through out this album. “Letter To My Son” is a song full of frustration and angst which just puts the cherry on the cake of this album.
Overall Bloc Party was successful in what they set out to do, and that was basically to reinvent themselves as artists. “Intimacy” is an album full of emotions, experiments, and chaos and is perfect to indulge in.
I haven't listened to this album, but I might give it a shot. I feel like your review would benefit greatly from a lot of gramatical/structural corrections because those kinds of errors instantly take away your credibility of this were a really trying to get this published.
ReplyDeleteI wan to here more specific reasons why songs have certain qualities. I feel this needs better and more specific examples.
ReplyDeleteYou say the album has "electronic and orchestral" qualities, you elaborated on the orchestral but never on the electronic element that made the albums sound so new in your mind.
ReplyDeleteYou say that Bloc Party reinvented themselves with this album. I like that you didn't spend too much time on what was different about all of their material, but I think I would like to hear just a little bit more.
ReplyDeleteYou say “Signs” and “Better Than Heaven” why they represent the album's message but you don't explain how exactly they do, which can be tricky with only 300 words. Also, use more synonyms for the word intimacy, it's used a lot. Great ending
ReplyDeleteI think this review is great. As I have heard the album I think you described it really well. I enjoyed the back story and the explanations of each song.
ReplyDeleteLove how you expanded on the attributes of specific songs and referenced lyrics. Would like to hear a short sentence about their sound prior to this album since it seems to be a bit of a departure from what they have put out in the past.
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