Bloc Party’s A Weekend in the City

Bloc Party
Weekend in the City (Wichita; February
2007)

Combining influences from the Cure,
Sonic Youth, and the Clash, Bloc Party introduced
high-velocity, extremely danceable indie rock unlike any of their
contemporaries. Two years later, the Party has returned with A
Weekend in the City, and it seems some profound changes have
found frontman Kele Okereke, who brings us songs about depression,
immigration, homosexuality, social anxieties, and life as a black
Englishman in London. It’s safe to say that, while their personal
struggles may be somewhat dark, the sun still shines on the
abilities of these four young Brits.

The first half of A Weekend in the City is pure energy,
as it hits the ground running with “Song for Clay,” a fiery poem
about the pitfalls of fame and fortune. “Hunting for Witches” and
“Waiting for the 7.18” are quick to follow up, two of the most
intelligent and powerful tracks on the album. As usual, Matt Tong
delivers percussion at inhuman velocities, while Okereke brings
substance and texture to the table with his lyrics.

Somewhere around “On,” “A Weekend in the City” seems to slow
down a bit. Okereke’s vocals get a big tired between “Where is
Home?” and “Kreuzberg,” while “I Still Remember” borders on
downright cheesy. Still though, the guys keep it together with
“Sunday,” before delivering a simply prismatic conclusion with
“SRXT,” a ballad about depression and suicide in college
graduates—the song title referring to the acronym for the
anti-depressant Seroxat. At the end of the day, there could not
have been a better successor to Silent Alarm. Buy this
album.