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Last Post 1/18/2005 6:43 PM by  mick
bloc party...
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mick
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1/18/2005 6:43 PM
    they're everywhere. any opinions on them? just hype or have they substance? love their song blue light. its beautiful.
    Gar
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    1/18/2005 6:52 PM
    I thought maybe it was just hype but after seeing them last, I'm convinced just how good they are. Expect to see a live review of the gig soon enough. Quality band...
    stroller
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    1/19/2005 5:24 AM
    I hope they have a really successful year. In indie circles I wouldn't be surprised if they became as popular as say The Rapture or Yeah Yeah Yeahs or even Interpol. But I can't imagine them crossing over to mainstream audiences in the same way as Franz Ferdinand or the Killers, well, not with their debut album any way. I actually went to see them on Monday night. Despite not been able to get a ticket for their Whelan’s gig I still travelled up from Galway thinking that I'd have no problem scalping one outside the venue. But after an hour of pacing up and down wicklow street and harassing everyone in sight I realised that nobody had spare tickets to sell, not even the touts. Thankfully though I bumped into the band outside Solas and the lead singer Kele gave me his Access All Areas pass and I blagged my way in with that. I really enjoyed the gig although I'm not sure if their new material is as catchy as their previous singles. But then again it's hard to judge after only hearing them once. I just hope that they don't take a note out of the killers book and just re-release all their singles from the previous year. Anyway they're lovely lads, they sound great live and they've got some cracking tunes so I wish them all the best. I think they deserve all the hype they're attracting and I'll be buying their album as soon as it comes out.
    Dromed
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    1/19/2005 9:13 AM
    Saw them supporting Kings of Leon and thought they were cack. Actaully...the drummer was good..the rest of it was painful..as for the lyrics? ... "You'll find it hiding in shadows You'll find it hiding in cupboards It will walk you home safe every night It will help you remember If that's way it is Then that's the way it is" Wow
    Wicker
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    1/19/2005 10:59 AM
    have yet to hear their stuff.... It does sound like the NME Hype machine has gotten it's hand on them.
    klootfan
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    1/19/2005 11:36 AM
    as a matter of interest, where did bloc party support the kings
    Dromed
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    1/19/2005 11:52 AM
    In the Cigale in Paris. Without meaning to be too over the top about it - it was one of the only times that I've been on the verge of leaving a gig because I disliked a band so much. I went not knowing much about them...and had no preconceptions. They were the support act so I was expecting to just see a band I hadn't seen before and nothing more, but they gave me the fear. I just don't get it at all. Think the singer is an absolute *insert expletive* and while I'm sure they are 'lovely guys' I found them to be completely up there own arses and the music to be thinly disguised s**te. Rant. Over.
    spurtacus
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    1/19/2005 12:05 PM
    Ah c'mon their not that bad! Although i do cringe for that 'he doesn't like chocolate' lyric in helicopter, appallin! decent enough tune though in my humble opinion
    eoghan
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    1/19/2005 12:17 PM
    I saw them them playing a few tracks live on VH1 or Mtv or something a while ago and have to say I saw nothing exciting or original about them. Certainly nothing to write home about. And now it turns out they're being floated by some quaters as a bright hope for the future of mewzak? Hmmmm. I'm not so sure.
    Gar
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    1/19/2005 12:20 PM
    I'd disagree with earlier comments. While I haven't seen any of their videos nor did I see them support Kings Of Leon. But I did see them in Whelan's on Monday night and they rocked the venue. Some tracks could do with a little added spice but overall, they were very impressive and performed one of the best gigs in Whelan's that I have been to. Looking forward to their album now.
    bonzo
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    1/19/2005 2:32 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by mick
    they're everywhere. any opinions on them? just hype or have they substance? love their song blue light. its beautiful.
    If you like their song Blue Light does it matter whether it is hype or substance?
    mick
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    1/19/2005 2:41 PM
    well its the only song i've heard... anyway i think its an interesting topic, alot of bands these days start as a huge hype rollercoaster, interesting to see peoples opinions on it. half the people at that whelans gig were surely there just on the hype as bloc party havent even released an album yet and i doubt many folk have their singles.
    bonzo
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    1/19/2005 3:07 PM
    That may very well be the case. But I don't believe that hype is the same thing as media coverage/publicity. Hype means exaggerated publicity. I don't think thats happening here. I think its word of mouth. Lots of people who have heard them like them, you even said it yourself that you liked Blue Light - therefore people want to check them out when their mates say that are good. They want to be the first to be there when it happens, see them when they are small.
    burkey
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    1/19/2005 3:09 PM
    it struck me as a bit arrogant when kele said on monday night that they "expect to be in for a busy year". nothing's for certain lads. the nme golden handcuffs/kiss of death treatment has claimed many 'next big things' in recent years. it has equally launched bands into orbit. look at the libertines vs. franz ferdinand. that said excellent gig. tight as flip. especially on banquet. could've done without seein the drummers scrawny body though.
    bonzo
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    1/19/2005 3:13 PM
    They've certainly got us talking!
    mick
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    1/19/2005 3:27 PM
    nah i do think that huge media coverage is hype. its not as if the bands label didnt pay for all the press. thats why pr folk have jobs. they're in every magazine and every paper and the pr folk are doing a fantastic job. i do agree however about the word of mouth thing and people wanting to see them before they're huge or whatever, but i think in this case the word of mouth thing has cropped up over night via the hype.
    quote:
    Originally posted by bonzo
    That may very well be the case. But I don't believe that hype is the same thing as media coverage/publicity. Hype means exaggerated publicity. I don't think thats happening here. I think its word of mouth. Lots of people who have heard them like them, you even said it yourself that you liked Blue Light - therefore people want to check them out when their mates say that are good. They want to be the first to be there when it happens, see them when they are small.
    stroller
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    1/19/2005 6:04 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by mick
    i think in this case the word of mouth thing has cropped up over night via the hype.
    How could "the word of mouth thing" have cropped up over night when they released four singles last year alone? I can remember scavaging through record shops for a copy of She's Hearing Voices as far back as last february.
    Gar
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    1/19/2005 6:08 PM
    Where are all these singles exactly? Alot of people at the gig knew the lyrics to many of their songs. Maybe the album was leaked online.
    bonzo
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    1/19/2005 6:21 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by mick
    they're everywhere. any opinions on them? just hype or have they substance? love their song blue light. its beautiful.
    To answer the original question then it seems like it is "substance" as a lot of people like them.
    mick
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    1/19/2005 8:05 PM
    gar was leaked online alright, i've just downloaded a few songs off it, very good i'm glad to report.
    mick
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    1/19/2005 8:06 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by stroller
    quote:
    Originally posted by mick
    i think in this case the word of mouth thing has cropped up over night via the hype.
    How could "the word of mouth thing" have cropped up over night when they released four singles last year alone? I can remember scavaging through record shops for a copy of She's Hearing Voices as far back as last february.
    i hadnt heard of them until last week. maybe its because i dont read the nme?
    stroller
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    1/19/2005 8:45 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by mick i hadnt heard of them until last week. maybe its because i dont read the nme?
    Maybe it's just because you don't have your finger on the pulse of the contemporary music scene. I mean if you hadn't even heard of the Postal Service until 2004 then you can't exactly be the most clued up person around. It might do you no harm the buy the NME on occassion. That way you might actually hear about new music in the same year that it's released.
    mick
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    1/19/2005 11:21 PM
    haha... you've obviously got me there nice to know my musical tastes and posting are so intensely followed and who should i be listening to this week anyhow... jet? the datsuns? the vines? the hives? any of them still in?
    Binokular
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    1/19/2005 11:36 PM
    I bought the Postal Service album in 2003, doesn't make me a better person, what it does mean is that I'm an insomniac, I heard it on Donal Dineens show on TodayFM one night. I don't read the NME and very little if any of the new music I come across has been discovered through music magazines. I discover nearly all of my music through the net or radio (newer stuff) or from a friend of mine who has a massive CD collection and fantastic taste in music (mainly older stuff) Does it really matter when you discover a band as long as you discover them? Unless we're playing hipster-keepy-uppy. I didn't even get into Captain Beefheart until about two months ago, doesn't make "Safe as Milk" sound any less fantastic!
    Gar
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    1/19/2005 11:51 PM
    Good point there Binokular. I'm still only discovering older artists now. Got my first John Prine cd last week but discovered Captain Beefheart last year. It isn't a race and NME certainly wouldn't be the judges if it were. A forum like this is to share musical tastes not to ridicule others who might like someone else or have only discovered them. It's late, maybe I should shut up.
    Dromed
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    1/20/2005 9:58 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by stroller
    [quote Maybe it's just because you don't have your finger on the pulse of the contemporary music scene. I mean if you hadn't even heard of the Postal Service until 2004 then you can't exactly be the most clued up person around. It might do you no harm the buy the NME on occassion. That way you might actually hear about new music in the same year that it's released.
    Tell me you're joking with this post? Or have you just hit puberty or something? Stoller...it might do YOU no harm to do a little bit of growing up...either that or you should take a walk.....mwah mwah!
    bonzo
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    1/20/2005 11:55 AM
    Good review for Bloc Party in the Times today - just thought I'd throw that in there. On another note, long live the NME, I got introduced to so many bands by that publication when I was growing up. Have to admit though that I haven't bought it for years.
    Gar
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    1/20/2005 12:09 PM
    Do the Irish Times have a review of the Bloc Party gig that was on Monday?
    Pilchard
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    1/20/2005 1:34 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Gar
    Do the Irish Times have a review of the Bloc Party gig that was on Monday?
    yep, on the arts page. and theres also a blurb on the same page saying theres an interview tomorrow
    Gar
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    1/20/2005 2:14 PM
    Cheers.
    bonzo
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    1/20/2005 2:55 PM
    Its Kevin Courtney though so be warned.
    Gar
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    1/20/2005 3:02 PM
    Should be all the more interesting then.
    Dromed
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    1/20/2005 4:35 PM
    Ohhh can we pre-order copies!!!! PLeaseeee daddy can we? can we?
    stroller
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    1/20/2005 5:41 PM
    Maybe it's just because you don't have your finger on the pulse of the contemporary music scene. I mean if you hadn't even heard of the Postal Service until 2004 then you can't exactly be the most clued up person around. It might do you no harm the buy the NME on occassion. That way you might actually hear about new music in the same year that it's released. Actually reading back on this post I have to admit that it is a bit petulant and irrational. First off I want to say sorry to Mick for been so bitchy. It's just that I've been excited by Bloc Party since the first time I heard of them and I've been waiting to see them live and hear there debut album for the best part of a year now. I get really pissed off with the insinuation that I've just jumped on the band wagon because they made the front cover of NME last week. Secondly I do realise that the writers at NME are inconsistent, fickle, unreliable hype merchants. But at least they're dedicated to pushing new music. Uncut managed to omit the Libertines and the Coral's debut releases from their top 70 albums of 2002. They did the same things with the debut albums of Kings Of Leon in 2003 and The Futureheads in 2004. I'm not saying that every band that the NME push are worth listening too, far from it I realise that an awful lot of them are talent less (The Music/The Darkness etc) but they have introduced me to a lot of good bands before any other publications had caught on to the scent. They were recommending early EPs by the Kings of Leon and The Sleepy Jackson a good six months before their debut albums were released. It must have been over two years ago when they first started harking on about the Secret Machines and Their What Used To Be French EP. They seem to be the only magazine that included both Rufus Wainwright and Devendra Banhart in their 2003 end of year poll and the same goes for the Radio Dept last year. Also they gave Franz Ferdinand's Darts of Pleasure single of the week long before anyone else was talking about them. I realise that they ignore an awful lot of great music and they give great reviews to some crap records but the same criticisms can be levelled at Uncut, Mojo etc and don't even get me started about Hot Press and Q. Finally there are countless albums that I love but didn't discover until long after they were released so that point about the Postal Service doesn't really hold much water.
    Unicron
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    1/20/2005 7:13 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by bonzo
    Its Kevin Courtney though so be warned.
    Don't worry, I'm not into them so he's probably spent the last few days washing the taste of the band out of his mouth.
    mick
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    1/20/2005 11:36 PM
    haha no need to apologise dude, you had my number i thought it was some funny s**t. no need to be so uptight folks hi5's all around... anyway back to topic... been downloading alot of bloc party's stuff and for the most part its really excellent imo some stinkers but some gems as well, will defo pick up the album when its out
    quote:
    Originally posted by stroller

    Maybe it's just because you don't have your finger on the pulse of the contemporary music scene. I mean if you hadn't even heard of the Postal Service until 2004 then you can't exactly be the most clued up person around. It might do you no harm the buy the NME on occassion. That way you might actually hear about new music in the same year that it's released. Actually reading back on this post I have to admit that it is a bit petulant and irrational. First off I want to say sorry to Mick for been so bitchy. It's just that I've been excited by Bloc Party since the first time I heard of them and I've been waiting to see them live and hear there debut album for the best part of a year now. I get really pissed off with the insinuation that I've just jumped on the band wagon because they made the front cover of NME last week. Secondly I do realise that the writers at NME are inconsistent, fickle, unreliable hype merchants. But at least they're dedicated to pushing new music. Uncut managed to omit the Libertines and the Coral's debut releases from their top 70 albums of 2002. They did the same things with the debut albums of Kings Of Leon in 2003 and The Futureheads in 2004. I'm not saying that every band that the NME push are worth listening too, far from it I realise that an awful lot of them are talent less (The Music/The Darkness etc) but they have introduced me to a lot of good bands before any other publications had caught on to the scent. They were recommending early EPs by the Kings of Leon and The Sleepy Jackson a good six months before their debut albums were released. It must have been over two years ago when they first started harking on about the Secret Machines and Their What Used To Be French EP. They seem to be the only magazine that included both Rufus Wainwright and Devendra Banhart in their 2003 end of year poll and the same goes for the Radio Dept last year. Also they gave Franz Ferdinand's Darts of Pleasure single of the week long before anyone else was talking about them. I realise that they ignore an awful lot of great music and they give great reviews to some crap records but the same criticisms can be levelled at Uncut, Mojo etc and don't even get me started about Hot Press and Q. Finally there are countless albums that I love but didn't discover until long after they were released so that point about the Postal Service doesn't really hold much water.
    bonzo
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    1/21/2005 9:39 AM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Unicron
    quote:
    Originally posted by bonzo
    Its Kevin Courtney though so be warned.
    Don't worry, I'm not into them so he's probably spent the last few days washing the taste of the band out of his mouth.
    ?????
    Unicron
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    1/21/2005 1:23 PM
    Typically he hates what I like, I was implying that upon seeing the band he dropped straight to his knees.


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