| By the late '90s, the influence of grunge had worn | | | | served as beautiful, heart-aching ballads, such as |
| its welcome. Rap-rock, hard rock and pop were | | | | "This Modern Love," with its sad lyrics about being |
| the top sellers on the charts. But that period didn't | | | | afraid to fall headlong into love ("What are you |
| stay long, either-by the early '00s, indie-rock was | | | | holding out for?/What's always in the way?/Why |
| reaching the mainstream through catchy hooks | | | | so damn absent-minded?/Why so scared of |
| and a more scratchy, dancey sound. While The | | | | romance?/This modern love breaks me/This |
| Strokes, The Killers and Franz Ferdinand opened | | | | modern love wastes me"). |
| the door to this trend, eventually bands more | | | | Their follow-up, A Weekend in the City, offered |
| influenced by the post-punk period of the late '70s | | | | up more focus, more depth, and more sadness |
| and early '80s (Gang of Four in particular, but also | | | | with songs like "Waiting for the 7:18." It was clear |
| Joy Division, Wire, and Sonic Youth). Maximo Park, | | | | the band was evolving, adding more electronic |
| Interpol, and The Futureheads were counted | | | | fiddling on songs like "Hunting for Witches," |
| among the many devotees that would develop a | | | | marrying the scratchy guitar-work the band had |
| skronky brand of dance-rock, but of the entire | | | | become known for with samples. Their lyrics |
| revival, few had the substance and chops of Bloc | | | | were still powerful, commenting on the paranoia |
| Party. | | | | after the London tubeway bombings ("1990s, |
| The band formed in London with Kele Okereke on | | | | optimistic as a teen/But now its terror, airplanes |
| vocals and guitar, Russell Lissack on guitar, Gordon | | | | crash into towers/The Daily Mail says "the enemy |
| Moakes on bass, and Matt Tong on drums. It was | | | | is among us!/"Taking our women and taking our |
| their single "Banquet" that launched their star, | | | | jobs"/All reasonable thought is being drowned out |
| drawing in raving music journalists were desperate | | | | By the non-stop baying, baying for blood"). |
| to hear more, especially after a dance-club ready | | | | With their third record, the band has transitioned |
| remix was offered on an EP. They were not | | | | from the guitar and drums-based post-punk that |
| disappointed. In 2005, the band released their first | | | | opened the new decade to the electronic/rock |
| full-length album, Silent Alarm, receiving critical | | | | fusion that it seems to be closing out with. With |
| acclaim in both the United States and their native | | | | deep bursts of horns and synthesizers playing |
| United Kingdom. | | | | through their new single, "Mercury," it's clear the |
| Many of their songs took an explicit political | | | | band is sliding farther from conventional rock and |
| stance, in particular the abrasive "Helicopter," | | | | toward electronica, though their feet are still firmly |
| which took aim at the Bush administration and the | | | | ensconced in the rock camp. |
| War on Terror: "Stop being so American/There's | | | | If you haven't heard their new music, get a hold |
| a time and there's a place/So James Dean/So | | | | of their new record, Intimacy. Better yet, hear it |
| blue jeans/He's gonna save the world/He's gonna... | | | | live by getting Bloc Party tickets. |
| Are you hoping for a miracle?" Other songs | | | | |