A Weekend In The City
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
A Weekend In The City Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 320 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Kele Okereke & co. try to avoid the sophomore slump with this highly-anticipated follow-up to their acclaimed debut 'Silent Alarm.'

Top Track

Prayer
Lord, give me grace and dancing feet And the power to impress Lord, give me grace and dancing feet Let me outshine the moon Is it so wrong to crave... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. The A.V. Club
    100
    It's smart, strange, just different enough from its predecessor, and, eventually, absolutely stunning.
  2. Lost At Sea
    85
    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.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    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.
  4. Dot Music
    60
    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.
  5. The Guardian
    60
    There's barely a song that isn't kneecapped by one of Okereke's lyrical clangers.
  6. Stylus Magazine
    58
    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.
  7. PopMatters
    40
    The direction in which Bloc Party has traveled is entirely unsuited to its strengths.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 115 out of 208
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 208
  3. Negative: 68 out of 208
  1. 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 muchHolly 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...… Expand
  2. evan
    Feb 12, 2007
    10
    I love it, every second
  4. Cyrone
    Nov 30, 2007
    9
    The reason I'm rating this is cause it's been hated on SO badly by the critics. Honestly this is an amazing album, it grows on you The reason I'm rating this is cause it's been hated on SO badly by the critics. Honestly this is an amazing album, it grows on you BIG time and eventually is better than their debut. I was never a big Bloc Party fan until this 2nd album so urge everyone to get it.… Expand
  5. JohnB
    Feb 5, 2007
    8
    The first half of A Weekend in the City is better in every aspect compared to the second half. Lyrically, I hear honesty coming from Kele and The first half of A Weekend in the City is better in every aspect compared to the second half. Lyrically, I hear honesty coming from Kele and that is something I can really sympathize with. His words will hit a core with the targeted age group even though they may seem overly simplistic and not so interesting at times. Lyrically and musically Bloc Party tries to create a concept of every day life in the UK and for that they deserve credit as well as exploring different sounds, leaving behind the dance punk so prevalent on Silent Alarm. This album really shows how far Bloc Party has progressed as well as its beauty with multiple listenings. A Weekend in the City may be overproduced and several songs are misfires, but it is not a failure by any means and it deserves its due respect.… Expand
  6. 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. TheThanks 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
  7. MaxC
    Feb 8, 2007
    2
    Just two songs are good in this record, Hunting for the Witches and On, the rest is rubbish.
  8. MarkW
    Feb 7, 2007
    0
    The worst album of the year, Bloc Party turns to a Emo band now, unfortunately.

See all 208 User Reviews

Related Articles

  1. Music

    Sophomore Slump? Comparing the Second Albums of Buzz Bands

    Sophomore Slump? Comparing the Second Albums of Buzz Bands Image
    Published: April 10, 2010
    With the second album from MGMT arriving in stores this week, we take the opportunity to explore how other bands have fared after releasing a successful debut. Is it possible to have a good second album?
    More »

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Most Discussed Album of 2007
88
#88 Most Shared Album of 2007

Current Music Releases

Full List »
100 Revolver Special Edition (Super Deluxe) [Box Set] - The Beatles
100 Live and Dangerous [Super Deluxe Edition] - Thin Lizzy
93 Desire, I Want To Turn into You - Caroline Polachek
92 Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory [Box Set] - David Bowie
91 Travel - The Necks
91 Live at the Whisky 1977 [Box Set] - Cheap Trick
90 S.O.S. - SZA
90 Manzanita - Shana Cleveland
90 50 [Box Set] - Neu!
89 The Hypnogogue - The Church
89 Live at the Fillmore, 1997 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
88 12 - Ryuichi Sakamoto
88 Angel Numbers - Hamish Hawk
88 Angels & Queens, Pt. 1 - Gabriels
88 King's Disease III - Nas
87 Indigo - RM
87 YTILAER - Bill Callahan
87 In These Times - Makaya McCraven
87 Congregation - Witch Fever
87 And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow - Weyes Blood
All Current Music »