Once more around the Bloc

There's something that's been bugging me everytime a new Bloc Party album comes out. It's not whether or not the album is just as good or better than the previous one (there's only been 3). It's not whether or not who i pictured lead singer Kele Okereke to be when I first heard them back in 2004/2005 was totally wrong (wow, did not see that coming). No, what bugs me is why Bloc Party is not bigger than they are?

Granted, Bloc Party has only been on the scene since 2005's Silent Alarm, but whenever I hear an album of theirs, i wonder, why are they not topping the charts when the blackeyed peas or lady gaga are in the top 10 (Yes i know, Intimacy was released last year, but that's not the point)? Right. We all have our own musical tastes and let's be honest, it's not like i'm going to promote a band that i feel totally ruins the intention of what music is supposed to be (then again, i'd probably slag them as opposed to promote), it's all subjective. Can't i just wish that everyone was as subjective like me? CMON PEOPLE!!! work with me here.

What constitutes success? Bloc Party had a song playing for a Saturn commerical (bet you didn't know that), does that mean they've made it? If they had a song on an XBOX 360 game (forza 2), would you consider that the epitomy of what stardom is? probably not.

Some reasons why I think you should like Bloc Party:

1) the melodies and soundscapes - Bloc party takes you along a musical journey (cliched i know), but it's true. One minute you're bouncing off the walls, another minute and you're lying on your bed contemplating just what the hell you were bouncing for. Take a listen to "Ares" on their latest album Intimacy. The harder rock song suddenly breaks and takes you into a beautiful few seconds to catch your breath, then wham, right back into it. "Signs" starts off with some child-like bells then swoops you into a dream-like state for the rest of the journey.

2) the lyrics - Let's take a look at today's current top hit from the Black Eyed Peas: " here we come , here we go, we gotta rock, (rock rock rock rock rock) easy come, easy go, now we're on top (top top top top top)"?????? i think i'm missing something.

Bloc Party's "I still Remember" from Weekend in the City -
"We wrote our names on every train
Laughed at the people off to work
So monochrome and so lukewarm
And I could feel our days were becoming night
I could feel your heart beating across the grass
We should have run, I would go with you anywhere
I should have kissed you by the water
I still remember"

Music and its lyrics are all about invoking a certain feeling or thought in the listener's mind. I always seem to get the sense that today's top 40 songs are not really about invoking thought but more about hearing repetitive junk (sorry BEP, don't beat me like you did Perez. it's all good) and so ingraining that repetition that you can't help but want to listen to it some more..and obviously buy the records. When you get to hear the music and listen to the lyrics from Bloc Party, you're actually FEELING something. Sometimes it's a strange angelic pastoral world like "Zephyrus" , other times its an introspection on what relationships are really about in "This modern love".

Take this subjective blog as you will and listen to more Bloc Party. Their new single "One More Chance" comes out on August 10.