The Greatest Albums of the 2000s

#9.  Bloc Party, Silent Alarm (2005): Yes, yes Amanda I know, you told me so.  Like a few other albums on my list, this one took quite a while for me to appreciate.  This despite seeing them live several years before.  Indeed, it took a second show for me to appreciate the energy of the music on Silent Alarm. Putting together a collection of guitar driven rock, Bloc Party emerged from the post-punk movement of the early 2000s that produced bands like Interpol and Franz Ferdinand- the band that discovered them.  But to lump these guys in with the other dozen or so bands that emerged around the same time would sell this album short.  The new-wave feel of this album, characterized in part by precision drumming, a wall of guitars, and the uniqueness of lead singer Kele Okereke’s vocals, put Silent Alarm in its own different sub-category.  Perhaps the song that best exemplifies their signature sound is the sex-fueled track “Banquet.” With a catchy hook and a disco influenced groove, this is Bloc Party at its best.  Not to be outdone, the semi-ballad “So Here We Are” comes in towards the end of the album with lush guitars, the constant snap of a snare, and a richness of emotion, showcasing the band’s versatility.

The beginning of the decade was marked with a slew of similar sounding records aimed at capitalizing on the resurgence of punk.  Few matched the dynamism of Silent Alarm.

Faves: Like Eating Glass, Banquet, Pioneers, So Here We Are, Luno

Listen: http://www.lala.com/#song/360569453759075596

Website: http://www.blocparty.com/