So, Bloc Party's new album Intimacy is gonna be released digitally today, less than a week after its existence was announced. Considering similar stunts have been pulled by The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, NIN, et al, early internet releases seem almost typical these days - less than a year after In Rainbows had everyone debating alternative music distribution models. No doubt, record labels pay market analysts well to make such informed decisions; and not everyone wields the same clout as Radiohead after all......
Silent Alarm remains one of my fave albums and possibly the best straightforward modern rock record this turn of the decade, which was why its follow-up, Weekend in the City, was rather disappointing in contrast. It's great that Bloc Party are all sincere and serious in their approach: dedicated and earnest, with the musical chops to back them up - but the drama quickly drags itself out, and the attempts at pop-chart appeal become increasingly insipid and almost insubstantial. They're still better than most of their cool, apethetic indie compatroits, and immensely more likeable.. but as the industry knows full well, great debuts come with the baggage of immense expectations, especially if you're shooting from the indie scene. But I digress...From what I've heard, Im simply not quite looking forward to Intimacy. Mercury was pretty damn annoying, and new single Trojan Horse seems similarly plagued by indulgent, tasteless "experimentation" and overprocessed vocals dulling whatever classic Bloc Party magic there might have been. Of course, Im being too harsh; and the album must of course be appraised as a whole, but for now I'd very much rather get my hands on The Walkmen's new album You & Me instead.
Anyway, I told some friends about a funny email my academic mentor sent a few days ago; specifically, about this line: Most of you have managed to maintain an above 4.0 GPA, congratulations to you and keep up with the good work. For those of you, whom did not perform as well, please see me ASAP. Wow so a 2LHons GPA is like an emergency :S makes me wonder just how high our course average is. Probably like 4.6 or something. Those mech engine students must hate taking the same mods as us. Alright, time to stop wasting the rest of my day off on the computer. tata.

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so goes the backing track of all the sighs we ever sighed