Then Lydon should sue his arse off (xxp).
― Dingbod Kesterson, Monday, 21 July 2008 15:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Wow, I was really excitable in 2004. In fairness, 2004/05 were the good Bloc Party years, as I can't imagine ever being this excited about them again.
Yes, I'm reviving threads I started to ridicule myself.
― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 7 March 2009 00:22 (fifteen years ago) link
early singles, silent alarm and "two more years" are unmitigated classics
― wow heaven is cool (J0rdan S.), Saturday, 7 March 2009 00:25 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah silent alarm is unfuckwithable imo
― been HOOS, where yyyou steene!? (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Saturday, 7 March 2009 00:35 (fifteen years ago) link
REAL TALK
― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 7 March 2009 00:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Intimacy was fantastic as well, just not on SA's level.
― Josh L, Saturday, 7 March 2009 11:12 (fifteen years ago) link
anyone else going to their chicago show the 28?
― the chicano incarnation of benito juarez (primalfixations), Saturday, 7 March 2009 18:02 (fifteen years ago) link
Bloc Party guitarist bitten by lion
― Tom A. (Tom B.) (Tom C.) (Tom D.), Friday, 1 October 2010 09:13 (thirteen years ago) link
http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/59460?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Lol. With the exception of AC/DC, has rebooting a band with a different singer ever worked?
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 11:28 (twelve years ago) link
Black Sabbath.
― good luck in your pyramid (Neil S), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 11:35 (twelve years ago) link
Genesis
― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 11:36 (twelve years ago) link
Didn't read the story btw, NME pages seem to take about 20 mins to load some days.
― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 11:37 (twelve years ago) link
Also they still haven't corrected the spelling of 'will' in the headline. Fucking idiots.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 11:38 (twelve years ago) link
In any case, it would seem they aren't going to be called "Bloc Party"
― Mark G, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 11:45 (twelve years ago) link
Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has admitted he is unsure of his future in the band after the rest of the group went into the recording studio without telling him.The singer has told NME he recently spotted guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong outside a rehearsal studio in New York and he wasn't even invited to take part in the sessions."I was actually having lunch about three weeks ago, just here on 8th Avenue and I saw somebody walk past and I recognised the haircut," he said. "It was Russell. I was like, 'Hey!' but he didn't see me and I followed him around the corner and then I saw Matt, Gordon and Russell all standing outside this rehearsal space. They all went inside."He added: "I hope I haven't been fired. I don't really know what's going on, because we haven't really spoken recently and I'm a bit too scared to ask."
The singer has told NME he recently spotted guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong outside a rehearsal studio in New York and he wasn't even invited to take part in the sessions.
"I was actually having lunch about three weeks ago, just here on 8th Avenue and I saw somebody walk past and I recognised the haircut," he said. "It was Russell. I was like, 'Hey!' but he didn't see me and I followed him around the corner and then I saw Matt, Gordon and Russell all standing outside this rehearsal space. They all went inside."
He added: "I hope I haven't been fired. I don't really know what's going on, because we haven't really spoken recently and I'm a bit too scared to ask."
This is weird. Just talk to the band, you big goose.
― master musicians of jamiroquai (NickB), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 11:58 (twelve years ago) link
manager Simon White on twitter now saying it's all bollocks.
― piscesx, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:18 (twelve years ago) link
Man Bloc Party fell hard and fast, but I still love the debut album and a couple scattered songs from the next two albums. I can't see this being a good idea at all.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:23 (twelve years ago) link
this is weird...
my only hope is that they go back to being more of a rock band? all the electronic & dance stuff they tried to do -- and i think a lot of it was kele's lead, tho i'm speculating -- was sort of noble at the time but it never really fit for them. kele didn't know how to write interesting or good songs of that nature.
that said the band is so much about him at the forefront that having a new vocalist really wouldn't even be the same band
― yung huma (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:35 (twelve years ago) link
also weird that they went behind his back to record/to nme to announce they're looking for a new singer but he also didn't even bother to call them?? fucking people
― yung huma (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:36 (twelve years ago) link
"i still remember" has aged really well for me, sorta wish that they'd gone the route of kings of leon & tried to sell out with stadium pop-rock stuff than try and become a rock band that is cool for dance fans to like
― yung huma (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:37 (twelve years ago) link
J0rdan pretty much otm on all counts
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:38 (twelve years ago) link
y'all
UPDATE: Bloc Party's camp have told us that, despite reports, Kele is not being kicked out of Bloc Party. A post on the band's website claims that "Bloc Party is still Bloc Party," with a cartoon of the band drawn up as characters from "The Simpsons" and a promise to "see you soon."
http://pitchfork.com/news/44139-bloc-party-kicks-out-kele-okereke/
― markers, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:40 (twelve years ago) link
cool, i hope they go back to writing rock songs
― yung huma (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:41 (twelve years ago) link
I do have to admit that one thing I miss from the "old days" was having to wait until a new promo cycle came around to find out if all of the wild break-up rumors flying around were true or not. Not as much fun when they get debunked within hours.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:43 (twelve years ago) link
They tried to follow a Radiohead route and tried way too hard I think, electronic influences, useless state-of-the nation lyrical clangers. Neither they nor their producers were talented enough to pull it off. If ever a band needed an editor.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:43 (twelve years ago) link
http://blog.yellowbirdproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/the-editors.jpg
"You rang?"
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:09 (twelve years ago) link
No, no I didn't. Please get off my porch you lot.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
They tried to follow a Radiohead route and tried way too hard I think, electronic influences, useless state-of-the nation lyrical clangers.
^^ why I lost interest in the first album. Their weaknesses were their strengths too: all that racket made political and musical sense in 2005 (lots of good memories dancing to "Banquet" and quoting "Price of Gas" in another record review) but when they became better record makers they eliminated that beguiling vagueness.
― Anakin Ska Walker (AKA Skarth Vader) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:12 (twelve years ago) link
*why I lost interest AFTER the first album.
I'd also say: "They tried way too hard to think."
otm
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 12:28 (7 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
New Order?
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
Seems to have worked reasonably well for Alice in Chains so far.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
Alice in Chains have been going at some point since 1993?
― Dios mio! This kid is FUN to hit! (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:21 (twelve years ago) link
They just released a new album in 2009 with a new lead singer, seems to have been pretty well reviewed too.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 19:22 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.thefader.com/2012/01/03/bloc-party-confirms-reunion-new-album/
In an interview with the BBC’s Zane Lowe, Bloc Party lead singer, Kele Okereke confirmed that the band is back in tact and will be recording a new album in 2012. Fans were never given concrete reasons for the band’s shaky future, but can now look forward to a new year with new material, the first since 2008′s Intimacy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is cool and all, but based on Kele's solo tracks and the fact that Intimacy was pretty lame, I'm not sure I care anymore.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 3 January 2012 23:33 (twelve years ago) link
Hoping this is a return to their earlier spirit, also. Get out of Matt Tong's way and scuff up the production as stated above.
― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Wednesday, 4 January 2012 20:53 (twelve years ago) link
these guys went downhill so fast :( that debut album is still a cracker though
― Michael B Higgins (Michael B), Wednesday, 4 January 2012 21:34 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I listened to 'Silent Alarm' the other day and quite enjoyed it. Not only that, but it made the flaws of their other albums more apparent... two things that I always find appealing about the first Bloc Party album is the frantic drumming and the guitar sound. It definitely has the most 'tolerable' lyrical content of all their albums too... not smacking you around the head with clunky lyrics about eating foie gras with complete disdain or taking ones watch off before one makes love.
― Turrican, Saturday, 7 January 2012 21:58 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s4M5EqOGsMA
this video has some clips of new music. it sounds lush... and warm, a key ingredient whose absence did a lot to spoil intimacy.
― phantompenguin, Friday, 1 June 2012 03:04 (twelve years ago) link
New album is imaginatively titled Four. It is their fourth.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 1 June 2012 03:40 (twelve years ago) link
the last two albums were definitely cold and stiff and just very rudimentary in their experimentations
BUT kele's lyrics also went way the fuck off the rails in an embarrassing way. his vocals sorta, too. so, we'll see.
― fapper don (J0rdan S.), Friday, 1 June 2012 03:46 (twelve years ago) link
haha
would it be better or worse had they titled it Nine
― mookieproof, Friday, 1 June 2012 03:47 (twelve years ago) link
One of the clips of new material in that youtube sounds very Smashing Pumpkins.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 1 June 2012 04:23 (twelve years ago) link
i thought that too! i was even confused at first and then i realized oh it really is a bloc party song.
― phantompenguin, Saturday, 2 June 2012 04:47 (twelve years ago) link
Ha this is great -- so I was scrounging through my old Suede fan club newsletters (as one does) and in the 'Swap That Shop' section of issue 14, winter 1997:
Kele Okereke, [with his then-address, as opposed to now, presumably], Manor Park, LondonOriginal and very talented vocal-lyricist seeks guitar genius (Marr, Oakes, Butler) to write beautiful art rock. NOT a Suede tribute band; original and dynamic! 100% committed, real music head, style and image also. London area, willing to travel. Contact me after 5 pm on [phone number]. "Let's make it beautiful!"As well as a musical partner, I'm also searching for various Suede bits. I'm desperately seeking copies of the promo videos to "Drowners" UK version, "New Generation," "We Are the Pigs," "Trash" and "Beautiful Ones." I'm also after copies of all the unreleased tracks: "Be My God," "Art" and "Wonderful Sometimes," as well as any decent live recordings of "Stay Together" and Richard playing "He's Dead." Any articles and posters are also most welcome.I have a signed Suede CD and a signed (Bernard) "Stay Together" and also Bernard's black plectrum. I'm willing to pay for postage and packaging and for your services.
Original and very talented vocal-lyricist seeks guitar genius (Marr, Oakes, Butler) to write beautiful art rock. NOT a Suede tribute band; original and dynamic! 100% committed, real music head, style and image also. London area, willing to travel. Contact me after 5 pm on [phone number]. "Let's make it beautiful!"
As well as a musical partner, I'm also searching for various Suede bits. I'm desperately seeking copies of the promo videos to "Drowners" UK version, "New Generation," "We Are the Pigs," "Trash" and "Beautiful Ones." I'm also after copies of all the unreleased tracks: "Be My God," "Art" and "Wonderful Sometimes," as well as any decent live recordings of "Stay Together" and Richard playing "He's Dead." Any articles and posters are also most welcome.
I have a signed Suede CD and a signed (Bernard) "Stay Together" and also Bernard's black plectrum. I'm willing to pay for postage and packaging and for your services.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 September 2012 22:11 (eleven years ago) link
He would have sent that in when he was all of fifteen!
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 September 2012 22:22 (eleven years ago) link
that's awesome, ned
― J0rdan S., Sunday, 16 September 2012 22:23 (eleven years ago) link
Okereke responded critically to comments made by Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis in early 2007. Liam called Bloc Party "A band off of University Challenge", while Noel dismissed them as "indie shit". In retaliation, Okereke stated, "I think Oasis are the most overrated and pernicious band of all time. They had a totally negative and dangerous impact upon the state of British music. They have made stupidity hip. They claim to be inspired by The Beatles but, and this saddens me, they have failed to grasp that The Beatles were about constant change and evolution. Oasis are repetitive Luddites."[17] Ironically, when Oasis cancelled their headlining set at the Rock-en-Seine festival near Paris in August 2009 (the concert where the Gallagher brothers clashed backstage, which resulted in Oasis splitting up), it was Okereke who announced to the crowd that Oasis had cancelled their slot and dedicated their track "Mercury" to the Oasis fans in the crowd, referring to the Gallagher brothers as "those inbred twins." [18]
― A.R.R.Y. Kane (nakhchivan), Sunday, 16 September 2012 22:41 (eleven years ago) link
There was a shorter note in the next fanclub issue where he was asking to see if someone wanted to edit a fanzine, kinda fun.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 September 2012 22:44 (eleven years ago) link