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. Vampire25
    Dec 30, 2010
    9
    A great follow up from their first album Silent Alarm. A Weekend In The City is a lot different sounding from Silent Alarm. The lyrics are a lot more in depth and it sounds a little more mature. The vocals are better, the lyrics are good, everything just sounds great. All In All, A Weekend In The City is just as good, if not better, than Silent Alarm. A-
  2. Ricko
    Aug 21, 2016
    8
    A loose concept album based on life in London, this is a solid follow up to their excellent debut Silent Alarm, showing lots of ambition and progress but still packing in the tunes. "A Weekend In The City" has all the ingredients that made the bands debut so enjoyable, and in many places expands and improves on it. Having said this, while Kele's vocals have improved, his lyrics here areA loose concept album based on life in London, this is a solid follow up to their excellent debut Silent Alarm, showing lots of ambition and progress but still packing in the tunes. "A Weekend In The City" has all the ingredients that made the bands debut so enjoyable, and in many places expands and improves on it. Having said this, while Kele's vocals have improved, his lyrics here are at times cringeworthy. Sometimes they work and to be fair they do sound very personal and you have to give credit to him for attempting to wear his heart on his sleeve, but most of the time it's close to poor teenage poetry. On the surface they are fine and probably dont take away from the record, unfortunately I listened a bit too carefully. Musically excellent though and a record that has aged well especially when stood next to their later material.… Expand
  3. davim
    May 2, 2015
    6
    For Bloc Party, following up their seminal debut album 'Silent Alarm' was always going to be a challenge. After only two years out of the limelight, 'A Weekend in The City' was released in early 2007. The album definitely sees a progression in Bloc Party's music. It's quite impressive how much they matured musically in just a two year period, with a much more electronically driven soundFor Bloc Party, following up their seminal debut album 'Silent Alarm' was always going to be a challenge. After only two years out of the limelight, 'A Weekend in The City' was released in early 2007. The album definitely sees a progression in Bloc Party's music. It's quite impressive how much they matured musically in just a two year period, with a much more electronically driven sound than 'Silent Alarm'. Despite some notable high points with the music however, it's certainly the lyrics that let this album down. Kyle Okereke trying to be almost too realistic in a lot of these songs, and almost comes across as cringeworthy at times. After getting off to a fairly reasonable start with 'Songs for Clay (Disappear Here)', 'Hunting for Witches' and 'Uniform', the album is somewhat let down by a collection of very weak songs towards its latter stages such as 'Where Is Home', 'Kreuzberg' and 'Sunday'.

    One particular bright spark; the single 'Flux' which was part of the re-release is one of the best songs Bloc Party ever produced. An electronically driven indie classic. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the entire album, but writing another album which was up to the standards of 'Silent Alarm' was always going to be a challenge in itself.    … Expand
  4. ughnicewatch
    May 12, 2015
    7
    If you are able to detach your preconceptions about Bloc Party based on Silent Alarm, this emerges as an imaginative, attention-grabbing and genuinely strong release.
  5. MarshallBuzz
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    Holly molly... whats wrong with this poor rating? This is the best album of Bloc Party, so much deep in my heart. This album reborn so much memories a few years ago. I love it... and again, I don't know why has this poor score...
  6. BouchetSmith
    Mar 2, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's everything Silent Alarm wanted to be. A huge step forward, Bloc Party have perfected their craft, the music sounds sleeker, and so much more melodic. It feels like theyr are trying to follow in Radiohead's footsteps by incorporating electronic sounds and beats into the mix. The album also feels very cohesive, it has a distinct eerie and alien atmosphere throughout. The only issue are some of the lyrics, which can be very cringey, almost like theyr were written by a teenager.
    8.7    … Expand
  7. NobodyDream
    Feb 20, 2021
    8
    An amazing album after all but in my opinion with songs like "Hunting For Withches" or "Flux" the feeling of the album to be some melancholic and sadnnes seems to be overshadowed but NOT making it worst, only mixing feeling, which some may find confusing, normal or terrible. But for me it's perfect in the way it is. The feeling of leaving things behind, to understand life, to overthinkAn amazing album after all but in my opinion with songs like "Hunting For Withches" or "Flux" the feeling of the album to be some melancholic and sadnnes seems to be overshadowed but NOT making it worst, only mixing feeling, which some may find confusing, normal or terrible. But for me it's perfect in the way it is. The feeling of leaving things behind, to understand life, to overthink memories; that's what "A Weekend In The City" means to me a travel to the past. And yeah the rating is quite low, is not the best album of the world but not as bad as they say… Expand
  8. altmex
    Mar 25, 2021
    4
    Thanks to "Song for Clay" and "Hunting for Witches", this album is not entirely horrible, but the rest of it is bad, plain and simple. The lyrics are cringy, the vibes are strange. I've genuinely tried to like this album many times but as soon as track #3 starts, I feel genuine desire to experience silence rather than this record. If you were attracted by Silent Alarm, like I was, this isThanks to "Song for Clay" and "Hunting for Witches", this album is not entirely horrible, but the rest of it is bad, plain and simple. The lyrics are cringy, the vibes are strange. I've genuinely tried to like this album many times but as soon as track #3 starts, I feel genuine desire to experience silence rather than this record. If you were attracted by Silent Alarm, like I was, this is a disappointment.… Expand
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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 »