A Weekend In The City
by Bloc Party
  • Record Label: Vice
  • Release Date: Feb 6, 2007
User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 320 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 211 out of 320
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 320
  3. Negative: 72 out of 320

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  1. JackPunk
    Feb 12, 2007
    10
    I think it's superb, the music is exciting and leaps out at you, and the downtrodden atmosphere is subtle and exquisite. My one complaint: not a single cogent rhyme on the entire record. Otherwise, I think it's brilliant.
  2. aliciam
    Feb 12, 2007
    3
    I hated this album.
  3. paulcupboard
    Feb 12, 2007
    10
    Excelent and appealing, it is not Silent |Alarm and thats what fans should want. It contains some old familiar haunts and some new corners to explore, if your not scared. If your hating this album cause it isnt enough like the old one then you'rea lost cause. BlocParty already made Silent Alarm twice do you need it again.
  4. BettyK
    Feb 12, 2007
    0
    the worst record of the year.
  5. JoeK
    Feb 12, 2007
    9
    With such an amazing debut in Silent Alarm it was always going to be difficult to follow it with something which would be as widely received. This album is great. It's an advancement in Bloc Party's sound, still maintaining the energy and power of Silent Alarm, but with more concise lyrics and a wider vocal range. It is less accessable but after a few listens it really acheives With such an amazing debut in Silent Alarm it was always going to be difficult to follow it with something which would be as widely received. This album is great. It's an advancement in Bloc Party's sound, still maintaining the energy and power of Silent Alarm, but with more concise lyrics and a wider vocal range. It is less accessable but after a few listens it really acheives a perfect representation of 'A Weekend In The City.'… Expand
  6. PG
    Feb 12, 2007
    3
    This album is awful, totally overhyped by the NME as usual, its good to see such a low rating on here, its no more than it deserves. The lyrics make me cringe, both guitarist are cheap jonny greenwood rip offs. Argh, english music is so poor at the moment
  7. RayF
    Feb 11, 2007
    8
    Not as immediately engaging as Silent Alarm, but after repeated listenings you come to realize it's still a very, very good album.
  8. gfdgdfgdfgd
    Feb 11, 2007
    10
    Awesome. Love em.
  9. philg
    Feb 11, 2007
    10
    better than silent alarm, a beautiful album that jumps at your after listening a few times 10/10
  10. NancyP
    Feb 11, 2007
    0
    Bloc EMO Party
  11. MarianneW
    Feb 11, 2007
    0
    It's a crash in the band run.
  12. pierreb
    Feb 11, 2007
    7
    It's like sex and like pizza. Even if it's bad, it's still pretty good. I agree with a lot of listeners: the production is rubbish. I think the album is a mix of Bloc Party B-sides, the weakest album of U2 and the least tracks on the Silent Alarm remix album. Further it contains 2 or three tracks that outstand. But hey, that;s still pretty good!
  13. mikeb
    Feb 10, 2007
    10
    One of the better cds out.
  14. LloydB
    Feb 10, 2007
    10
    Upon first listen A Weekend in The City was horrible, in my opinion. But the lyrics are the defintion of our generation. We are all lukewarm and monochrome. We waste out lives with alcohaul and chemicals. Kele has taken the frustration of society and funneled it into 11 beautiful songs. This cd takes a couple of listens but it will take a well deserved spot on everyone's top 20 Upon first listen A Weekend in The City was horrible, in my opinion. But the lyrics are the defintion of our generation. We are all lukewarm and monochrome. We waste out lives with alcohaul and chemicals. Kele has taken the frustration of society and funneled it into 11 beautiful songs. This cd takes a couple of listens but it will take a well deserved spot on everyone's top 20 albums if you give it a chance.… Expand
  15. TimothyH
    Feb 10, 2007
    9
    Most critics seem put-off by Bloc Party's somewhat pretentious appearance. Being someone who listens to music for what it is and not for what people tell me, I can tell you that this is an album that surpasses Silent Alarm in every category. The lyrics are more mature and honest. The music is more ambient and catchy. The beats are more complex and contagious. They don't miss a Most critics seem put-off by Bloc Party's somewhat pretentious appearance. Being someone who listens to music for what it is and not for what people tell me, I can tell you that this is an album that surpasses Silent Alarm in every category. The lyrics are more mature and honest. The music is more ambient and catchy. The beats are more complex and contagious. They don't miss a beat in this one. Don't miss this if you enjoyed Silent Alarm!… Expand
  16. JackK
    Feb 10, 2007
    0
    waste of money and time.
  17. CharlesB
    Feb 10, 2007
    3
    A deception follow-up.
  18. celsos
    Feb 10, 2007
    1
    Where is the Bloc Party from Silent Alarm?? This cd is boring....sorry
  19. CarlJ
    Feb 10, 2007
    0
    The worst album of the year, horrible.
  20. GaryM.
    Feb 9, 2007
    6
    The problem with this album is that I have no idea what direction Bloc Party wants to head towards to. But, by no means is this a Fall Out Boy (yuck!), or any other of those s*****y bands, kind of album. So, I'm not really recommending that you buy it or not. Decisions, decisions... Well, check out "Song For Clay (Disappear Here)" and/or "I Still Remember" and judge for yourself. If The problem with this album is that I have no idea what direction Bloc Party wants to head towards to. But, by no means is this a Fall Out Boy (yuck!), or any other of those s*****y bands, kind of album. So, I'm not really recommending that you buy it or not. Decisions, decisions... Well, check out "Song For Clay (Disappear Here)" and/or "I Still Remember" and judge for yourself. If they don't really appeal, then Bloc Party has got a big problem on their hands.… Expand
  21. MattH
    Feb 9, 2007
    6
    To be honest, I think it's the users here who've gone off-base and the critics who've got it right. The album might be a change in direction, sure, but it's just not interesting. Whilst there are good songs (I particularly enjoy Song For Clay, The Prayer and Uniform), the rest of the bunch are fairly weak by comparison and some - Waiting For The 7:18, Sunday and SXRT - To be honest, I think it's the users here who've gone off-base and the critics who've got it right. The album might be a change in direction, sure, but it's just not interesting. Whilst there are good songs (I particularly enjoy Song For Clay, The Prayer and Uniform), the rest of the bunch are fairly weak by comparison and some - Waiting For The 7:18, Sunday and SXRT - are nothing but dull-as-dishwater album filler materlal. The thing that made Silent Alarm great was that it bristled with energy and anger. The way Helicopter, Banquet, Positive Tension and Luno built up and exploded was fantastic. Only in sparse moments does A Weekend In The City match that kind of energy, and it's no coincidence that those moments are the ones fans seem to be enjoying the most. I would agree with it being a grower, and it grew on me. This time last week I would have given it a 4. Despite the good moments though, I can't help but be seriously disappointed by an album which should have been much better.… Expand
  22. BobA
    Feb 9, 2007
    6
    Definitely a step back for Bloc Party. I thought the first half was quite good - a natural progression of their sound to something a little slinkier, slicker, sexier (albeit at the expense of the immediacy and energy that made Silent Alarm so addictive). But things fell apart towards the end, when they started to settle for some pretty plain and forgettable arrangements. I sort of get the Definitely a step back for Bloc Party. I thought the first half was quite good - a natural progression of their sound to something a little slinkier, slicker, sexier (albeit at the expense of the immediacy and energy that made Silent Alarm so addictive). But things fell apart towards the end, when they started to settle for some pretty plain and forgettable arrangements. I sort of get the impression that they miscalculated their strengths and weaknesses: Kele Okereke is a good vocalist on the more bombastic numbers, but he's NOT a good crooner. His vocals have lost a lot of their bite. And the de-emphasis of the rhythm section on some of the numbers was also disappointing, although drummer Matt Tong gets a chance to shine on several numbers. Expecting another album of Silent Alarm-quality may have been unreasonable, but this isn't even close. Still a worthwhile listen, but pretty forgettable.… Expand
  23. SteveO
    Feb 9, 2007
    7
    Bloc Party's freshman effort, Silent Alarm, set the bar very high. It's not to say that we, the listening public, couldn't hope for more greatness from the promising Brit indie/pop group, but it's certainly unfair to expect it. By comparison, A Weekend in the City is not nearly as good as its predecessor, but when judged on the same scale as other albums, and not Bloc Party's freshman effort, Silent Alarm, set the bar very high. It's not to say that we, the listening public, couldn't hope for more greatness from the promising Brit indie/pop group, but it's certainly unfair to expect it. By comparison, A Weekend in the City is not nearly as good as its predecessor, but when judged on the same scale as other albums, and not merely compared with Silent Alarm, it still stands out as a solid effort. What's even more commendable is that Bloc Party weren't trying to create a continuation of their first effort as so many other bands are guilty of doing. Kele and company instead set out to make a fresh sound while not alienating the following they had earned from Silent Alarm. The new album is at times energetic, anthemic, and contemplative. But to be fair, the second half loses the youthfulness and a lot of the egde for which we love Bloc Party. In the end, Bloc Party should get a pat on the back for trying a different direction and for creating a good, if not great, album.… Expand
  24. BryanW
    Feb 9, 2007
    4
    Serious disappointment, esp. after seeing them absolutely kill it at McCarren Pool in Bklyn this summer.
  25. MichaelW
    Feb 9, 2007
    10
    Feels like the thought in your mind before a Saturday night in town. Full of hope, anxiety, excitement.
  26. FredM
    Feb 9, 2007
    2
    This album really has a serious problem of listen to.
  27. RickA
    Feb 9, 2007
    0
    A disappointed new album.
  28. joris
    Feb 9, 2007
    7
    Good but a disappointment after Silent Alarm. Standouts are the beautiful KREUZBERG, THE PRAYER, UNIFORM and SONG FOR CLAY. While I wasn't expecting a Silent Alarm II, this just lacks the energy, creativity and the excitement of its predeccesor. It's almost Bloc Party goes U2 sometimes and that's definitely not meant as a compliment... HUNTING FOR WITCHES is the only Silent Good but a disappointment after Silent Alarm. Standouts are the beautiful KREUZBERG, THE PRAYER, UNIFORM and SONG FOR CLAY. While I wasn't expecting a Silent Alarm II, this just lacks the energy, creativity and the excitement of its predeccesor. It's almost Bloc Party goes U2 sometimes and that's definitely not meant as a compliment... HUNTING FOR WITCHES is the only Silent Alarm-esque song, but is only half as good as let's say Heliopter, Like Eating Glass or Banquet in my opinion... I find the first 8 tracks varying from very good to great, but quite boring ballad-like songs as Sunday and I Still Remember should have been replaced by something more energetic, again that's what this album misses. SXRT however is a good one, kind of Bloc Party goes Elbow... 7,5/10… Expand
  29. ClaudeM
    Feb 9, 2007
    3
    I didn't like the way the they turns on.
  30. JamieN
    Feb 9, 2007
    0
    Klaxons give us what the Bloc Party did not do this year. Tedious sound, I don't care about her sexual life, I wanna Party!!
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2007
88
#88 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Observer Music Monthly
    60
    Those hoping to be converted are likely still to doubt the 'voice of a generation' tag.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    80
    It's a given that some people will miss the raucous Bloc Party, but there are enough in-your-face moments and hidden gems to keep A Weekend In The City on regular rotation. [#16, p.90]
  3. Urb
    70
    A post-electronica, post-rave production that jettisons genres and cherishes uncut creativity. [Jan/Feb 2007, p.77]
See all critic reviews »