A Weekend in the City

The new Bloc Party album leaked on Saturday, and I managed to get my criminal hands on it last night. Having been a Bloc Party fan since the first time I heard "Like Eating Glass", I was pretty damn excited to hear what's next. I've only had the chance to listen to it a couple times, but I can already say that this album will come as a huge shock to anyone familiar with their previous work. The band's work up until this point has been fairly distinct: they have a fairly defined style and they're very good at what they do. This all changes with A Weekend in the City. I'm definetly not ready to review it or anything, but I will say that it's much, much more sonicially mature and intense. More aggressive, more hypnotic, more grandiose, and more political. What's missing (or at least, not emphasized) are the jangly guitars and bopping rhythms. There are definetly some cringe moments, but they are more than made up for by the occasional "holy shit" which this record will surely elicit from anyone who gives it a good listen. I don't think it will sell a ton of copies - it's too out there, and I don't think I'll listen to it as much as Silent Alarm - but like or not Bloc Party have made a totally unique album for 2007.