Silent Alarm
by Bloc Party
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 274 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 248 out of 274
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 274
  3. Negative: 14 out of 274

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  1. ericar
    May 7, 2005
    8
    This album is not your regular indie album. You hear everythign from reggae to punk undertones. Its a great album to get you in the mood to go out and party.
  2. markw
    Apr 26, 2005
    8
    Silent Alarm is a diverse and extremely competent album. Many of the tracks shine individually and with an impressive consistenty of quality - there's barely a bad track on it. Bands that offer this consistency are a rare thing. I'm sick of seeing them compared to Franz Ferdinand. Bloc Party are way better and have none of the pretentiousness of FF. Bloc Party's lead singer Silent Alarm is a diverse and extremely competent album. Many of the tracks shine individually and with an impressive consistenty of quality - there's barely a bad track on it. Bands that offer this consistency are a rare thing. I'm sick of seeing them compared to Franz Ferdinand. Bloc Party are way better and have none of the pretentiousness of FF. Bloc Party's lead singer has a way better voice too!… Expand
  3. JeffS
    Jun 17, 2005
    8
    A very good, solid, and most importantly complete rock album. Every track is enjoyable if not memorable.
  4. carlos
    May 16, 2005
    8
    like....good skills and songs.
  5. lucab
    Sep 19, 2005
    8
    i find the first part of the album a breathtaking 1-2-3-4! this album is catchy, but better than the others of the same "cathegory"; they're good performers too.
  6. giulia
    Mar 22, 2005
    7
    i m not such a fan of their music, but they seem to be very nice. and the music isnt that bad. i will give it an other try i guess.
  7. gusmac
    May 18, 2005
    7
    ok album nothing spectacular
  8. tim
    May 25, 2005
    7
    pretty f-ing good, but some of the tracks are too emo-y for my exquisite pallete. listen to modest mouse. if you do not like them, you do not deserve to have ears.
  9. GlennM
    Aug 26, 2005
    7
    better than most of the crap bands that this one is related with (killers, futureheads, kaiserchiefs, franz ferdinand) but still is not special at all
  10. AdamW
    Jul 6, 2007
    7
    Okay album - sounds terrible though - really bad mastering - flat and dull. Just a horrible sound. Passable for the ipod, but think I'm going to take the CD back and get a refund as it just sounds totally sh*t through the stereo.
  11. MarkK
    Apr 24, 2005
    7
    The first 4 tracks are really really good. However, the rest is, it seems, mediocre at times. Its a good album. However, after the first good week of listening I've moved to just listening to songs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8.
  12. MatthewL
    Jul 15, 2005
    7
    Consistently good, occasionally very good, but never great.
  13. Screamager
    Jul 21, 2017
    7
    An impressive, if somewhat flawed, debut record.

    After hearing a Bloc Party song on one occasion I held a particularly negative opinion of the group, and for that reason was apprehensive about listening to their critically acclaimed debut. I have since decided it would be foolish to rate the band on one experience and properly listen to a full length album. I must admit, that my    An impressive, if somewhat flawed, debut record.

    After hearing a Bloc Party song on one occasion I held a particularly negative opinion of the group, and for that reason was apprehensive about listening to their critically acclaimed debut. I have since decided it would be foolish to rate the band on one experience and properly listen to a full length album.

    I must admit, that my opinion of Bloc Party has improved slightly, and was immediately captivated by the opening song "Like Eating Glass". Despite being the opener it is the undisputed highlight, with its mix of hard hitting drums and a spiky guitar line reminiscent of an overproduced "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" that works perfectly.

    Unfortunately after this song things are fairly unspectacular until later. "Helicopter" borrows (or outright steals, depending on your perspective) its main riff from the earlier "Set the House Ablaze" by The Jam - and despite my appreciation for nostalgia, the riff just doesn't suit vocalist Kele Okereke's voice; it genuinely feels as though he is struggling to cope. "Banquet" is in many ways derivative of Franz Ferdinand, but whereas "Take Me Out" was a memorable anthem "Banquet" lacks any kind of memorable chorus.

    With "This Modern Love" the album provides its second major standout; a slow ballad with Kele's understated vocals - quite possibly his best performance on the entire album. Again though the following tracks are easy to forget, this time though they are rallying political statements in the form of "The Pioneers" and "Price of Gas". Album closer "Compliments" redeems the previous tracks, and ends the album on a high (albeit a slow and depressing) note.

    Silent Alarm is, in fact, a good album. Taken as a whole it flows perfectly and the performances of the rhythm section are outstanding - a harder, colder, modern incarnation of The Smiths. Unfortunately the vocals are not as perfect as the instrumentals and none of the songs, with the exception of "Like Eating Glass" and "This Modern Love", are ones that I would consider listening to outside the context of the album.

    I will say though, that Silent Alarm - from start to finish - has successfully escalated my opinion of the band. If this doesn't make it a success of an album, what will?    … Expand
  14. juckes
    Mar 9, 2006
    6
    just can't seem to get into this album, the banquet is an excellent song and will appeal to everyone. I can see why people like this band but i wouldn't call them the best band of 2005, lol, not a chance
  15. ste
    Jun 1, 2005
    6
    Descent album with 3 exceptional tracks - positive tension/price of gas/banquet, some good moments in opening track, helicopter, this modern love and pioneers, and some boring songs you can't avoid.
  16. time
    Dec 2, 2006
    6
    Very dissapointing :-(
  17. [Anonymous]
    Apr 28, 2005
    6
    Given the hype, I expected this to be a lot better than it is. Sounds similar to The Killers, Interpol, etc. I'm getting tired of the 80's new wave throw-back sound.
  18. SYanoff
    Jun 17, 2005
    5
    There's some catchy stuff on here, but it's just not a stunner.
  19. naja
    Aug 1, 2005
    5
    This album is overhyped and overrated. We have a collection of some sophisticated, catchy, dancey, post-punk music. And that's it. Nothing groundbreaking, none of that "re-invention" of rock and roll, just another album put out by hipsters who are trying to milk what today's adolescents are into for all it's worth. Plainly put, they're average. The music isn't This album is overhyped and overrated. We have a collection of some sophisticated, catchy, dancey, post-punk music. And that's it. Nothing groundbreaking, none of that "re-invention" of rock and roll, just another album put out by hipsters who are trying to milk what today's adolescents are into for all it's worth. Plainly put, they're average. The music isn't bad. It's not amazing, but it's easy to see as to why critics are drewling over this album and why any wannabe indie teen in the states loves this band.… Expand
  20. LucaS7
    May 13, 2014
    5
    It's nice but a bit boring, the same music, i expect something good for the next album..................................................................................
    .........................
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  21. NateA
    Apr 24, 2005
    4
    You've got to be kidding. This is a third-rate imitation of better post-punk bands at best. At worst, just another whingy British singer mewling into a microphone.
  22. CaseyRDubya
    May 10, 2007
    4
    Sounds dated and dull! This marked the downfall of british music in 05. Fortunately Art Brut and the Go! Team revised it later in the year.
  23. BobbyW
    Feb 27, 2007
    4
    Vastly overrated. The singles are decent, the rest is utterly forgettable tripe that wasn't all that interesting when it was written in the 80s. The "political commentary" is a bore and unoriginal, especially framed by Kele's irritating voice. "A Weekend in the City" is worse though, so cheers on having produced your best album.
  24. ericm
    Apr 23, 2005
    3
    music mave, your comment is a pastiche of lame record review cliches. gross. the killers are freaking terrible, and as for this bloc party album, it's DULL. this is one band that is a success thanks to bandwagon-hopping.
  25. DD
    Apr 2, 2007
    0
    This album is pure garbage, nuff said.
  26. Paco
    May 1, 2007
    0
    Very, very overated. Nothing good about this.
  27. LJ
    Mar 31, 2007
    0
    Mega crap! Wow, I don't why people love this. The lead singer can't even sing. If you want great music, listen to Hard-Fi and Editors who are much better.
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Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best Album of 2005
23
#23 Most Discussed Album of 2005
16
#16 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Rolling Stone
    80
    Silent Alarm is dance rock, but highly caffeinated.
    Read full review
  2. Blender
    60
    Occasional flashes of brilliance transcend the deja-vu pastiche. [Apr 2005, p.113]
  3. cokemachineglow
    78
    Removing the formulae and sensual stimuli from the Party leaves little that’s substantive or innovative. Even the most cursory of examinations would show the group to be an “it” band and not much else. However, Bloc Party’s absurdly good at being an “it” on Silent Alarm.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »