Intimacy
by Bloc Party
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Oct 28, 2008
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 78 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 78
  3. Negative: 2 out of 78

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  1. MattA.
    Oct 3, 2008
    8
    Let's just stop comparing both this album and A Weekend in the City to Silent Alarm. It is ridiculous to hold Bloc Party to that. Taken on its own merits, this is a solid, interesting album. The lead singer's lyrics are still pretty bad but they weren't great on their debut either and no one seemed to have a problem then. The thing that has always elevated Bloc Party is Let's just stop comparing both this album and A Weekend in the City to Silent Alarm. It is ridiculous to hold Bloc Party to that. Taken on its own merits, this is a solid, interesting album. The lead singer's lyrics are still pretty bad but they weren't great on their debut either and no one seemed to have a problem then. The thing that has always elevated Bloc Party is their energy. It was admittedly more abundant on Silent Alarm than it was on A Weekend in the City, but they have regained some lost ground with this album. So again, don't expect Silent Alarm and you will have much to enjoy here.… Expand
  2. Ricko
    Nov 7, 2011
    8
    The third album by the band. Their least commercially successful but I think its a really good album. Marginally better than A Weekend in the City and not quite as strong as Silent Alarm but the band showed consistent progression with their sound from album to album. All facets of the records are strong and it's very hard for me to pick out faults except there is a lack of killer singlesThe third album by the band. Their least commercially successful but I think its a really good album. Marginally better than A Weekend in the City and not quite as strong as Silent Alarm but the band showed consistent progression with their sound from album to album. All facets of the records are strong and it's very hard for me to pick out faults except there is a lack of killer singles that were present on their debut. It's such a pity that they have seemed to stop at this record with Kele going solo (bad move in my opinion). They've been one of the few "promising indie hopefuls" from the mid 00's that actually followed through on their potential and grew their sound.… Expand
  3. Blakey
    Oct 28, 2008
    9
    A definite improvement on the disappointing weekend spent in the city. Some out-there tracks which take some time to get your head around but make for thrilling listening. However a point has to be lost for kele's lackluster and sometimes disturbing lyrics. And surely bloc party have ripped off rage against the machines version of the rolling stones' street fighting man on the A definite improvement on the disappointing weekend spent in the city. Some out-there tracks which take some time to get your head around but make for thrilling listening. However a point has to be lost for kele's lackluster and sometimes disturbing lyrics. And surely bloc party have ripped off rage against the machines version of the rolling stones' street fighting man on the first track 'ares'.… Expand
  4. StarryEyed
    Oct 28, 2008
    9
    This rating isn't accurate at all as the majority of the reviews posted are reviewing the internet album not the physical release. The three songs tacted on for the final release, "Talons", "Letter to my Son", and "Your Visits are Getting Shorter", are all pretty much excellent and possibly the most accessible joints on the album and really help push the final product to new heights This rating isn't accurate at all as the majority of the reviews posted are reviewing the internet album not the physical release. The three songs tacted on for the final release, "Talons", "Letter to my Son", and "Your Visits are Getting Shorter", are all pretty much excellent and possibly the most accessible joints on the album and really help push the final product to new heights not attained initially.… Expand
  5. SpaceC.
    Oct 28, 2008
    9
    Fantastic album! At first when i heard it, i was a bit disappointed, but it's a grower. I'm giving it a 8 because the first two tracks never really clicked for me, and feel out of place with the rest of the album.
  6. liu
    Oct 29, 2008
    7
    Being not a fan of bloc party i'd say that this change of sound did not make me buy the record, but at least it made the listening far more challenging. bravo for their courage. although there's a feeling of the release being a bit over-rushed.
  7. ChrisN.
    Sep 4, 2008
    7
    Although not having the quality of Silent Alarm, Bloc Party's 2 follow-up albums have been fulled with catchy tunes that will ensure their relative success. For all those fans who have heard 'Mercury' may have been worried that Bloc Party were about to ignore their promise to create an album with the rawness of Silent Alarm and the experience of A Weekend In The City will Although not having the quality of Silent Alarm, Bloc Party's 2 follow-up albums have been fulled with catchy tunes that will ensure their relative success. For all those fans who have heard 'Mercury' may have been worried that Bloc Party were about to ignore their promise to create an album with the rawness of Silent Alarm and the experience of A Weekend In The City will be relieved to know that among a few songs of their new genre, there are many of their classic style. Unfortunatly this does not help create a well structured album and it does seem as though Bloc Party have thrown the album together rather quickly. If Bloc Party had not decided to release Flux with the re-release of A Weekend In The City and songs like Ares and Mercury were put together with the catchy floor-filler I feel we would all be praising Bloc Party for their genious right now, like we were with Radiohead when they released Kid A. Intimacy as an album might not have impressed us as much as it should have, but many of the songs on the album indivually will. For that reason I feel Intamacy still deserves 7/10.… Expand
  8. ChuckB.
    Oct 28, 2008
    9
    I had the online version of this album almost a month ago, and fell in love instantly. Now that the the full album is out, I can't get enough. If you enjoyed either of the previous Bloc Party releases, this is definitely an album to pick up.
  9. Vampire25
    Jan 3, 2011
    7
    Intimacy is Bloc Party's weakest entry, but that's not saying anything considering this was still a good album. I found it, for the most part, pretty enjoyable. It had a different sound to it and it sounded kinda strange at first but then you start to get into the groove and and start realizing that Bloc Party went crazy on this album. "Halo", "Biko", and "One Month Off" are great tracks.Intimacy is Bloc Party's weakest entry, but that's not saying anything considering this was still a good album. I found it, for the most part, pretty enjoyable. It had a different sound to it and it sounded kinda strange at first but then you start to get into the groove and and start realizing that Bloc Party went crazy on this album. "Halo", "Biko", and "One Month Off" are great tracks. All In All, Intimacy is a good album by Bloc Party and I recommend it. B… Expand
  10. rjmacready
    Jan 10, 2021
    7
    I'm a pretty big Bloc Party fan, but never managed to get into this one. The album prior - A Weekend in the City - certainly flirted with electronic drum beats and such, but this one gets too far from the guitar-based "sound" of the band for my tastes, and not in a cool retro/synth-poppy way either.

    Still better than several kicks to the teeth, but by far my least favourite of the first    I'm a pretty big Bloc Party fan, but never managed to get into this one. The album prior - A Weekend in the City - certainly flirted with electronic drum beats and such, but this one gets too far from the guitar-based "sound" of the band for my tastes, and not in a cool retro/synth-poppy way either.

    Still better than several kicks to the teeth, but by far my least favourite of the first four Bloc Party albums (I'm yet to check out the fifth). Lovers of the "modern electronic" sound might get more out of it than I did.    … Expand
  11. Brickfaced
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    It is hard to understand how an album that opens with wailing sirens, screeching vocals, masterful drumming and a daring falsetto bridge could be dismissed as boring or uninspired. After the god of war is set in motion, we're moved onto the brass filled, infectious 'Mercury', only to later change style numerous other times with Silent Alarm-esque rock anthems glazed in electronicsIt is hard to understand how an album that opens with wailing sirens, screeching vocals, masterful drumming and a daring falsetto bridge could be dismissed as boring or uninspired. After the god of war is set in motion, we're moved onto the brass filled, infectious 'Mercury', only to later change style numerous other times with Silent Alarm-esque rock anthems glazed in electronics (Halo,Trojan Horse One Month Off), and delicate heart tugging escapades (Biko, Signs).

    The album shape shifts through various dynamic styles, while retaining an electronic and sometimes sterile edge, blunted by catchy choruses and intelligent instrumental build-ups. The album really turns into something special toward its end especially, with the sprawling 'Talons', as rich in atmosphere and tension as it is in anthemic gusto, followed by 'Better Than Heaven' and closed with 'Ion Square', the former building toward heavenly synthased climax, and the latter serving as a poetic end to the record.

    Overall, despite its various themes, the album still feels connected in the sense that all of the songs share an electronic undercurrent which makes a powerful statement. It not only shows how capable the band is of changing their style, but also shows how dedicated they are able to be when they do it. The production of the songs is what makes them unique, and Bloc Party produce the whole of Intimacy which such a vibrantly new face that it's hardly surprising it caught so much criticism.

    Love it or hate it, this album made it clear that Bloc Party are not a one trick pony. There are parts of the album that may seem questionable, but its innovation (especially evident on repeat listens) makes it as credible as any band trying to break new territory, and they broke it outrageously too.    … Expand
  12. roadwarrior234
    Nov 30, 2015
    7
    This album has some really great tracks! I loved listening to Halo, Signs, etc. but somehow I can't help but think that this is a weaker point for Bloc Party. Coming off of Silent Alarm and A Weekend and the City, they had some pretty big shoes to fill. Intimacy comes a little short but is still a good album.
  13. xoxdash
    Sep 6, 2016
    10
    I don't understand all the negative reactions to this album. I really loved it and the more electronic spin they took! Its much more unique compared to their second album in my opinion.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Drowned In Sound
    70
    Intimacy is not quite the radical statement its makers might think it is (I’m not sure what could be given the group’s evident ambitions), but it’s definitely a little bit of invigorating redemption at a time when doubts were beginning to cloud what was, initially, a flawless reputation.
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  2. Los Angeles Times
    75
    This vicious playfulness extends to the music as well, which trims off the magisterial excesses of "Weekend" while keeping the band's recent noisy electronica crush intact.
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  3. musicOMH.com
    40
    At its best Intimacy is taut and claustrophobic or movingly sentimental, but for the main part it is repetitious and bafflingly poorly realised, especially given that they could have had an extra six months to work on it.
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