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. [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.
  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. CeilingTiles
    Apr 25, 2005
    10
    People with bad taste be warned -- This is not for you.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. GaryM.
    Apr 22, 2005
    9
    This is the band I've been waiting for. This is an amazing album full of great, great songs which include "This Modern Love" and "Banquet". Too cool.
  8. JonN
    Apr 21, 2005
    10
    I'm sorry. Someone said that Bloc Party are this year's Franz Ferdinand. WHAT???? Strange comparison! This is easily the best debut album I've heard in about 5 years, so brilliant that it hasn't been out of my CD player for 3 weeks.
  9. simonl
    Apr 19, 2005
    10
    i cant fault this album at all. it has everything a indie listener is looking for. great fast tracks like 'helicopter' and 'banquet', and then the more melodic songs like 'so here we are' and 'this modern love'. to top it off there are the other songs in the middle like 'pioneers' and 'like eating grass'. it is fair to say that i cant fault this album at all. it has everything a indie listener is looking for. great fast tracks like 'helicopter' and 'banquet', and then the more melodic songs like 'so here we are' and 'this modern love'. to top it off there are the other songs in the middle like 'pioneers' and 'like eating grass'. it is fair to say that 'silent alarm' is a genuine masterpiece by pure indie/punk lovers and anyone who buys this album and faults it is as kele would say "a newboy". i went to see them live at the london astoria and it was the best gig i have ever been to, i might go as for to say as they are better live. i wouldnt be wrong in saying that they are the best band in the world right now. GREAT LYRICS, GREAT MUSIC, GREAT BAND. live long and prosper bloc party!!!… Expand
  10. AnthonyP
    Apr 18, 2005
    10
    Great album - best ive heard in years. this is my kind of rock music. can't wait to see them at reading!
  11. MikeW
    Apr 17, 2005
    10
    Franz Ferdinand they are not. No, they're much better than that. This is an outstanding debut from a band that is sure to be around for a long time. If you haven't got this album yet, get out of that cave and buy it now.
  12. MusicMaven
    Apr 13, 2005
    9
    I like the Killers and Franz Ferdinand. They've got miles of style, and some solid songs to boot. Bloc Party doesn't have the style, but man have they got the substance - in spades. They've blended a lot of edgy post-punk influences (Gang of Four, Wire, Sonic Youth) into a diverse set of songs while adding enough melody to compete on the pop playing field. Track-for-track, I like the Killers and Franz Ferdinand. They've got miles of style, and some solid songs to boot. Bloc Party doesn't have the style, but man have they got the substance - in spades. They've blended a lot of edgy post-punk influences (Gang of Four, Wire, Sonic Youth) into a diverse set of songs while adding enough melody to compete on the pop playing field. Track-for-track, Silent Alarm is better than both Hot Fuss and Franz Ferdinand. Best album of 2005, so far.… Expand
  13. ZapB
    Apr 11, 2005
    10
    This CD is really good.. I don't think they compare too closely with Franz Ferdinand, they are more straight ahead rock, where this is more like punk. The songs on this CD seem deeper and more varied than FF too. I like this CD a lot after hearing it just a few times.
  14. jao
    Apr 10, 2005
    9
    wow, they really are that good.
  15. gareths
    Apr 4, 2005
    10
    if you buy silent alarm the be prepared to throw all your other CDs away. because nothing comes close to this.
  16. JordanB
    Mar 29, 2005
    9
    Definitely the best album I've heard so far this year, it satisfies from front to back, and does what has proven so difficult for so many indie bands recently - it sounds fresh. For those of you who wish you could love Franz Ferdinand more than you actually do, and are looking for something deeper in sound and emotion, this is your album.
  17. JoeC
    Mar 29, 2005
    10
    Awesome!!! Can't stop listening to it!!
  18. NiallB
    Mar 29, 2005
    10
    Just buy it
  19. ErikZ
    Mar 24, 2005
    10
    Within an hour of first "evaluating" Silent Alarm I had bought two tickets to see them this April and placed an order with Amazon UK. No, they're not "sexy." But what
  20. bretc
    Mar 24, 2005
    10
    ignore the list of influences and hype...just listen a couple times
  21. DevinB
    Mar 24, 2005
    10
    This album sounds like the beginning of a revolution. Sure, dancepunk has been done before, but Bloc Party bring a sense of focus and tightness to the genre that I've not yet heard. Expect huge things from these guys.
  22. Nickl
    Mar 22, 2005
    9
    I've been listening to this album for about two months now in the frigid cold of minnesota and very seldom does it leave my cd player. It's a great album, worth your time and money, and it will be on a lot of year end top ten lists.
  23. MarkyP
    Mar 22, 2005
    9
    This album is just great. Energy, feeling and challenge all in one CD. Get it !
  24. LawrenceP
    Mar 22, 2005
    9
    Simple and deep music at the same time. One of the best debuts in recent times.
  25. romanevil
    Mar 22, 2005
    10
    ...Pure emotions...intelligence...variety of sounds...sometimes the hype is not fake !!!
  26. 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.
  27. JeromeH
    Mar 21, 2005
    9
    This is the best album I've listened to all year (of already 120 2005 releases). I can admit I'm a music elitist, and if I hadn't heard this album before all the hoopla surrounding Bloc Party had occurred, I wouldn't have gone in listening to them with an open mind. That said, I'm not a fan of Franz Ferdinand and see narry a similarity beyond geography (and This is the best album I've listened to all year (of already 120 2005 releases). I can admit I'm a music elitist, and if I hadn't heard this album before all the hoopla surrounding Bloc Party had occurred, I wouldn't have gone in listening to them with an open mind. That said, I'm not a fan of Franz Ferdinand and see narry a similarity beyond geography (and that's only if you're so myopic to view the UK as one entity). The reviewers aren't giving this band enough credit in terms of songwriting ability. It's deeper than simply "hook and catchy". Anyway, I like 9 of the 13 songs, which is a ratio only comparable to Modest Mouse, Les Savy Fav, and Arcade Fire in terms of releases from last year. This album is watin high and pretty until something can knock it off the 2005 perch I've made for it.… Expand
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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
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