Silent Alarm Live - Bloc Party: Review
is a long standing British punk band who blew up off their critically acclaimed debut record Silent Alarm in 2005 and after a number of lineup changes the band hasn't been able to match the critical success of their debut. The current roster of the group went on a tour of Europe in 2018 and 2019 playing their debut album in full and assembled a full live album from various performances on the tour.
Review Lavender:
I am a HUGE fan of Bloc Party, and I have been for just about as long as I can remember. Unlike a lot of music I was into growing up, upon reflection Bloc Party sounds as crisp and refreshing as ever looking back on their career. While I feel so many of their later releases from Intimacy to Hymns are severely underrated there's no denying that their debut record Silent Alarm is the bands true masterpiece as well as one of my favorite rock albums of the 2000's. So after they announced that the tour in which they we're playing the album in full only featured European tour dates I was thrilled to hear that a live record was coming for all the Americans who didn't get the chance to see the shows. Now that the record is here I have to say it certainly won't blow anyone away with extravagance or passion in its performance, but many of these tracks still hold up so well after nearly 15 years.
To avoid writing a review of Silent Alarm itself I will keep it brief and address the strengths and weaknesses of the record. One of the major strengths is that many of my favorite tracks from the record, which feature fast paced explosive songwriting and fiery performances translate over very well into live format. Banquet, Like Eating Glass, Helicopter and This Modern Love sound as much fun as I remember them. Helicopter specifically features an excellent translation of the sliding guitars that make the original version of the track so excellent. Another strength of the record allows for appreciation of the tracks in new ways, as frontman Kele Okereke's banter with the crowd and bellowing singing both add a ton of character to the way tracks like Plans and Price Of Gasoline are performed.
The record really only falters when a song that normally leans on the intimacy of its production and the more subtle elements of its progression fails to translate into the live format. While Blue Light is the biggest victim of all the tracks here of this phenomenon there are many songs I really enjoy in studio format that just feel a little bit less punchy here. So Here We Are and Plans also get a slightly underwhelming approach but the catchiness of the songwriting still manages to shine through.
Silent Alarm Live is not the way I would recommend hearing Bloc Party's legendary debut album for the first time, but for fans the blend of a trip down memory lane of hearing the band youthfully take on the record and the nostalgia of its best tunes are well worth experiencing for fans. Outside of Bloc Party die hards I don't really see this record appealing to very many music fans but if live music is something you typically enjoy this is certainly a dose of some excellent performances, even if the consistency isn't always there. The main takeaway if any of this review sounds appealing to you, is to give the original version of the record a listen first, then dive into the looser but nearly as fun live versions of all of these amazing tracks. 7/10
For more live rock music check out my review of Car Seat Headrest's Commit Yourself Completely here.
