by Kendra Germany
Staff writer
After a four-year hiatus, British indie-rockers Bloc Party makes a comeback with the release of their fourth studio album “Four” on Aug. 20, 2012.
“Four” is this first Bloc Party album since the release of “Intimacy” in 2008.
“Intimacy” received quite a bit of negative feedback from both fans and critics. The electronic album failed to match the success of previous albums and did not showcase the talents of all four band members.
Despite the disappointment of “Intimacy” and rumors of a break up, Bloc Party has delivered a true comeback record that is sure to please even the toughest of critics.
“Four” has that upbeat yet moody sound that Bloc Party is known for. Each song has its own distinct sound, but somehow they all mesh together beautifully. Even though each song is amazing in its own way, there are a few that stand out from the rest.
The song “V.A.L.I.S” brings back memories of listening to Bloc Party’s first album “Silent Alarm.” The baseline is so infectious. Dancing along to the beat is almost uncontrollable.
Another great song off this album is “Kettling.” Guitarist Russell Lissack does an amazing job on this track. The guitar takes this song to a completely new level of awesome. It sounds angry and dirty.
That mixed with the intense vocals from lead vocalist Kele Okereke, it is easy to find oneself playing the song on repeat.
It is hard to pick which song is the best off of the album, but there is one song that shines just a little brighter than the rest.
In “Real Talk,” Okereke’s haunting vocals match perfectly with the equally eerie tone of the music.
The lyrics are powerful yet simple, showcasing Okereke’s voice in a beautiful way. Okereke croons, “I’ve lived in every town, but here is where I find home.”
Overall, “Four” is a great album. It is refreshing to hear an album that was not rushed.
It is also exciting to know that bands like Bloc Party are releasing the best possible music and trying to make albums that mean something, unlike some bands that are just putting out music to meet popular demand.
For anyone who enjoys that classic indie-rock sound similar to that of The Strokes and Two Door Cinima Club, “Four” is definitely an album worth checking out.