It's okay if the new music isn't for you. but I'm genuinely glad Bloc Party are still making music
I've been reading a lot of the discussion around Coming On Strong and now Love Bombs and I know the reactions have been mixed.
Not everyone has to love the new direction and I completely understand that some people miss the Matt and Gordon era. Those records mean a lot to me too.
But I also think it's worth saying the opposite perspective.
I'm genuinely happy that, over twenty years after Silent Alarm, this band is still making new music that I actually want to hear. That's pretty rare. Most bands from that era are either touring the same songs forever or have disappeared entirely.
For me, Russell is still one of the most distinctive guitarists around. His playing is still instantly recognizable, even though it's evolved over the years. And on Love Bombs, I really like Kele's vocal delivery.
Every album since Silent Alarm has been criticized when it came out. A Weekend in the City was "too polished." Intimacy was "too electronic." Four divided people. Hymns definitely divided people. Alpha Games had people saying they wanted something else again.
So sometimes I wonder if this cycle is just part of being a Bloc Party fan.
It's completely fair if these new songs aren't connecting with you. Music is subjective. But I also don't think every release needs to be judged against 2005 or against a lineup that hasn't existed for over a decade.
I'm just grateful they're still creating, still taking risks and still giving us something new to talk about. I'd much rather have a band that's evolving than one that's simply trying to recreate Silent Alarm forever.
Curious to hear what everyone else thinks, especially from people who are enjoying these new songs. Sometimes those voices get drowned out.
