All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

The Onion (A.V. Club)

It's smart, strange, just different enough from its predecessor, and, eventually, absolutely stunning.

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Drowned In Sound

A Weekend In The City is the aural adaptation, a digital manifestation, of what it’s like to be a twenty-something in Britain, today. It’s dirty, dishevelled, unsure and paranoid; fearful, easily distracted, boisterous and ashamed; reckless, wild, nervous and terrified; graceful, thought-provoking, clumsy and contradictory. And it’s very nearly perfect.

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musicOMH.com

How good is A Weekend In The City? At times, it's brilliant: bold, forthright and honest.

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Lost At Sea

A Weekend in the City showcases what all the band's initial buzz was about, but twists and filters what might have been expected, leaving them open to praise for different reasons.

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New Musical Express

The real achievement of 'A Weekend In The City' is its path to this conclusion, pulling hard-won moments of contentment from a maelstrom of anger and confusion.

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All Music Guide

This album isn't as brash or immediate as the band's earlier work, but its gradual move from alienation to connection and hope is just as bold as Silent Alarm, and possibly even more resonant.

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Under The Radar

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]

Pitchfork

When A Weekend in the City comes bursting out at you with a gaggle of second-album upgrades-- new tricks, new scope, new arrangements-- the bulk of them sound like good ideas: They've been executed by hard-working professionals.

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Urb

A post-electronica, post-rave production that jettisons genres and cherishes uncut creativity. [Jan/Feb 2007, p.77]

Vibe

On Weekend, the group's clearly into its '90s phase, and enjoying it. [Feb 2007, p.124]

Blender

At Bloc Party’s best, music and message collide with astounding force.

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Entertainment Weekly

Too often, the music on A Weekend in the City is less memorable than the ambitious subject matter.

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The Guardian

There's barely a song that isn't kneecapped by one of Okereke's lyrical clangers.

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The New York Times

Claustrophobic with multitracked vocals and baroque effects, the album lacks the wiry catchiness of hits like “Banquet.” [5 Feb 2007]

Observer Music Monthly

Those hoping to be converted are likely still to doubt the 'voice of a generation' tag.

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Spin

Not since U2 built an Atomic Bomb has one band tried so hard to turn each track into a breahless epic. [Feb 2007, p.84]

NOW Magazine

Too often Bloc Party aim for an overly expansive epic Coldplay quality that compromises the focus of their songwriting.

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Dot Music

The psychic bruising Okereke has sustained playing the East London fame game during the past 12 months has produced self-pitying lyrics that frequently state the bleeding obvious.

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Mojo

The album's substantial rewards lie in the unorthodox rhythms of drummer Matt Tong. [Mar 2007, p.102]

Uncut

For an album that strives to articulate the youthful pleasure-rush of love, drugs, and power, this is a worryingly pedestrian effort. [Mar 2007, p.75]

Q Magazine

An album of palatable Radio 1-friendly alt-rock. [Mar 2007, p.110]

Stylus Magazine

The second half of the album falls into a malaise as tempos slow and arrangements become more orthodox, placing Bloc Party closer to Coldplay than one would have thought possible two years ago.

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Playlouder

'A Weekend In The City'... fails because it tells us nothing new.

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Austin Chronicle

This young band has something fresh to say, which softens the letdown that their late attempt at post-punk heroism falls short.

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Alternative Press

They play things way too safe... which makes for a rather boring listening experience. [Mar 2007, p.142]

Rolling Stone

Though the new bunch [of songs] are sharply executed, they cry out for killer choruses now that they're not just outcries of generational frustration. [8 Feb 2007, p.70]

Prefix Magazine

A Weekend in the City borders on emo in its wordy self-obsession, so even though the record is actually more sonically adventurous than its predecessor, it seems like a massive step backward.

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cokemachineglow

Okereke now sings instead of barking, and, well, oops on him.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

It’s a difficult album to love, or even like. But, for all its faults — and there are many — there is enough here to make one think that maybe, just maybe, Bloc Party are capable of making, with their third LP, the kind of challenging yet highly accessible pop album they think they’ve made here.

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PopMatters

The direction in which Bloc Party has traveled is entirely unsuited to its strengths.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 6.3 (out of 10) based on 266 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mark G. gave it a0:
Horrible, emo album!!!!!!

Leroy B. gave it a4:
Kele's vocals have been brought to the forefront of the arrangements....... big mistake! , the guy cant sing particularly well and his lyrics are laughable. When Kele's not singing the band are at their best. Awesome drummer , great lead guitarist , why aren't they building they're songs around these things?

Brandon A. gave it a10:
Critics will be critics. A Weekend In A City was an absolute masterpiece. The band themselves work so amazing together. Personally I love how Kele articulates his aspects on the modernity state of Britain. Could not have been expressed better.

DL G gave it a10:
This is wonderful album from start to finish. They're amazing band where the group as a whole work perfect together.

Kate N. gave it a10:
Brilliant album. Listen to it everyday on the tube. Cannnot understand why people are slating it. The album reminds me my university days.

Phil Doc gave it a10:
I cannot stop listening to this cd, It is simply perfect!

Annika R gave it a10:
Absolutely lovely album. Iit requires a couple of times listening

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A Weekend In The City

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