The first new album from Bloc Party in six years isn't without its flaws, but Alpha Games has the band sounding reinvigorated. This time, they joyfully revive the band's signature crowd pleasing sound while attempting new methods along the way.
The UK-based band Bloc Party brought the explosive math-guitar rock and dance punk into the mainstream with their debut album Silent Alarm in 2005. A huge mega-hit that has aged like fine wine, Silent Alarm has unfortunately pigeonholed the band according to many fans and critics alike during their entire career. With each new release, Bloc Party are repeatedly reminded of their past success rather than their present. Do I think this is fair? No, I personally despise fans that just want an artist to repeat their successes by beating a dead horse. 2013's Four felt like a return to form for the band, continuing the band's dance rock while also incorporating a variety of different rock and pop elements... even a song with banjo! Four got a lot more flack then I think it deserved and I will still champion that record to this day. It's a great album! Their last record from 2016, Hymns, was one that was a true head scratcher to the majority, including myself. I respected that the band tried new styles and went into a more spiritual direction but the album itself didn't pan out as well. The consensus still regarded that the public wants another Silent Alarm or at least wants a record as exciting or reinvigorating as it.
Fast-forward to 2022 and we finally have a new Bloc Party album after six years. Alpha Games is the first record to include the new full lineup after drummer Matt Tong departed with new drummer Louise Bartle filling in. Despite the years between the two records, Alpha Games is a lot like Four in many respects. There are strong efforts of the revitalization of their original sound while also including new directions. Alpha Games reaches into that Silent Alarm nostalgia bag much more often than on Four wether you want it or not. There's an argument to be made that Alpha Games might be the band's best record since Silent Alarm and/or might be the band's most refreshing take on their signature sound since. Take the lead single "Traps" for example. Loud and boomy guitars, rapidly churning drumming, slick mathy guitar tones: that's what the fans want to hear from Bloc Party. The bright and jumpy guitars on "You Should Know the Truth" has a nice balance between the old and new with splendid harmonies from frontman Kele Okereke and drummer Louise Bartle. One of the best new additions to switching up the band's sound might be Bartle's attributing vocals which is noticeable on this track as well as the pretty nostalgic rock sound of "If We Get Caught."
Knowing recent output from Bloc Party and Kele Okereke, it's not all going to be pure sunshine and roses. It should come to be expected that there would be some lyric and sonic blunders on Alpha Games and there certainly are here. As great of a highlight as the instrumental of "Traps" is, Okereke's lyrics take the song down a peg... or two ("hey fun size, is this your first time?"). Hearing Kele make a disgustingly audible licking sound right singing in between "lick, lick, lick" and "lickety split" makes me want to snap my headphones directly in half. The single "The Girls Are Fighting" is the band's most audaciously gross attempt at an anthemic rock song to be blasted out of NHL hockey arena speakers a la Green Day or Muse. No thanks, guys! The basic foundation of "Callum Is a Snake" is just awkwardly presented and sung over with its synths until its guitar driven chorus, which is pretty solid. The swirling instrumental behind "Of Things Yet to Come" is that of a dated inspirational documentary series from 2004.
Alpha Games certainly has its flaws (read above) but the overall experience is enjoyable, fun, and provides at least some of the energy and oomph that fans have been wanting for years and years now. Upon initial release, I was really enjoying this record and attributed my enjoyment in similarity to that of Silent Alarm or Four. But returning back to this record after a few months, I found its flaws to be more and more obvious with each listen. The highlights themselves are great and they provide a wonderful balance between early 2000's nostalgia and current indie / alt rock. Unfortunately, these highlights initially clouded my judgement until now and they are a lot fewer and more far between than I initially perceived. Alpha Games certainly has its flaws like I said, that should be expected going in to a new Bloc Party record these days. Knowing that the band is attempting and enjoying reviving these sounds of the past while trying new things... that's great to hear from them. It's way more admirable and respectable of an album than Hymns, that's for sure.
My Rating: 6 / 10
Favorite Songs: "You Should Know the Truth," "If We Get Caught," "Day Drinker," "Traps" (minus the 'lickety split' line)
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