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Bloc Party Continue Their Countdown To The Apocalypse

70.pngARTIST: Bloc Party
TITLE: “Mercury”
WEB DEBUT: July 7, 2008

ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: If the phrase “Bloc Party tries to refashion ‘Toxic’ in its own image, only with tauter drums and some skronky horns lurking in the background at the end” interests you in any way, you might do well to listen to “Mercury,” which pretty much reappropriates that formula. Of course, “in its own image” means that the vocals are more Kele Okereke-bark than Britney-coo, and the lyrics are more about the world’s problems than about bad love, but hey, it still sounds pretty good to me.

WHERE TO HEAR IT: “Mercury,” which premiered on Zane Lowe’s BBC1 show earlier today, is streaming from Bloc Party’s official site, where you can also buy a pretty box-set version that comprises a 7-inch, a 12-inch, and a CD, all of which are filled with remixes. But why click over there, when the song’s Planet Of The Apes-style video has been posted on YouTube already:

Needs more stewardess scenes, no?

Bloc Party [Official site]

 
By Maura at 4:00 AM on Mon Jul 7 2008
Posted to: ,
  • Anonymous

    um, what part of this sounds like Toxic? Is it the drums? Did you mean the drums? There are some strings, too, I guess. I don't get it.


    Song is actually pretty good, I think. But boy was I disappointed that this didn't sound like Toxic. That would have been sweet.

  • FunkyJ

    Finally!


    Block Party aren't trying to sound like a Blur / The Cure cover band!

  • NotPop

    Who produced this??

    This is far too progressive to be Bloc Partys work alone.


    It's good, they may just have a future in music...

  • Penny

    I'm a big Bloc fan. I've seen them ocuntless times, but I gotta admit this is really terrible. The strongest thing about this band has always been their guitars and the blistering drums. Now all of that is gone. I hope people finally get off the hype train on this one and admit that it's pretty crappy.

  • Defenestrated

    I'm liking the song so far, as I tend to like most of what Bloc Party has put out initially. I've found that after a while though, Kele's voice just starts to become grating and I just stop listening.

  • cassidy2099

    How dare Bloc Party not keep making the same album?

  • Anonymous

    this is kind of a mess but it's a one off single. i wouldn't put all that much stock into it. and plus, anyone professing to be a fan of this band that's surprised that they are going further down the (or kele's) rabbit hole is being disingenuous or misinformed. he's always talked about doing things like this. and even though it does kinda suck, at least it's sonically interesting, which has always been their strong point anyway. (compare this to the third futureheads album for instance.)

  • Maura Johnston

    I dunno. I like it. Even after the first listen.

  • Anonymous

    zzzzzzz... how much $$$ does it take to go from socially conscious to self righteous. and (back in 2005) i used to think they were worth something. as if "a weekend..." wasn't one of the most cliched, sophomoric albums ever... now this garbage. i suddenly feel like worthless human garbage for giving them the benefit of the doubt for so long. i even bought one of their over-priced t-shirts. god, i (am a) suck(er)!

  • scottmcd

    @brasstax: You and I should start a band.

  • Cheap Shot

    I do not agree.

  • Anonymous

    This guy notices a similarity between "Mercury" and a Peter Gabriel track:


    [thisjusthappened.wordpress.com]


    Can't say I disagree...

  • OokieDookie

    /should have read category more carefully

  • brasstax

    What happened to this band I once loved? I guess they can do whatever they want, and I'll just go on pretending they broke up after Silent Alarm.

  • OokieDookie

    Not really a leak, it was published on Atlantic Record's YouTube channel, after all.

  • Lieutenant 030

    "Mercury's in retrograde"? Shut up, hippie.

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