Within the context of an album documenting the desensitising nature of life in Britain today – of the weekday grind and solace sought in weekend oblivion – ‘I Still Remember’ provided a rare moment of sincere and tender reflection. Boasting a supremely pretty melody and abundant guitar hooks, it is one of the most commercially viable songs that Bloc Party has written to date and a no-brainer single selection.
However, when compared to the impassioned questioning of identity, race, and sexuality that made A Weekend In The City such a powerful record, it would be easy to dismiss ‘I Still Remember’ as lovelorn froth. Do not make that mistake, for though it swaps the political for the personal this track seethes with a passion all its own. At times tortuously nostalgic, generally ‘I Still Remember’ proves a genuinely affecting evocation of heartbreak. Set to delicately spun, confectionary pop-rock, Okereke here laments a lost love, his heart plagued by a remembrance of things past. The guitars are fleet-footed, leading the listener a merry dance whilst those nervous tic rhythms ceaselessly build momentum. This is musical carpe diem, urging us to seize the object of our affections before the moment passes: “You should have asked me for it, I would have been brave / you should have asked me for it, how could I say no?”
How indeed can we say no, as at this stage resistance seems futile.
Am I the only one
Who thinks this sounds like U2?
My friend when this song came on the radio the other day:
'Urgh, I hate Snow Patrol. Turn it off.'
I have to say, I agree with her.
No
Not U2, not Snow Patrol. Though I do like the latter. Bloc Party have a very unique sound. And although this song is not their usual rough guitar sound, it is pure & beautiful with great lyrics.
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
well, havent decided about the song yet.. cheese-fest of a video though
The video is aimed
at american markets is it not? They need to create a simple strong indentiy over there.
I like this song a lot, i love the album a lot too.
this single
was the first one from the album in america, if they haven't been arsed to film a different video, they're lazy un-artists.
anyway, this single, great in the context of the album, dull on its own.
:(
you're wrong. this song is boring boring boring. just so moderate and forgettable. has none of the traits that made bloc party famous and all of the traits of rubbish radio pop/indie/rock music.
as it's a single it would be foolish to discuss it or judge it within the cntext of the album. i don't wn the album so this just sounds like a dirge. NEXT.
Disagree
This is a top tune! I'll grant you that the album isn't particularly strong, but this is a top tune!
Disagree
Top tune yes, and top album too!
Do you people not know amazing music when you hear it?
This stood out for me
as soon as I listened to the album, ace song.
This song is boring
It really is. I like the first half of the album quite a bit, but this is rubbish.
I can understand why it was a single though. It has an obvious hook and very little in the way of identity to put people off, so it will probably do quite well...
^This
Still, if it converts more people to listen to BP instead of other schmindie bands whose songs all sound like this, it must be a good thing, I suppose?
I reckon
their last album was brilliant and this one is ok.
I think the strenths in the last album were the innovative drumming and well balanced guitar lines. To me the vocals always played a secondary role to the instruments. In this album the vocals are very high in the mix and the music has been toned down a bit, making it less innovative, and to be honest a bit blander.
Although I think this song is ok and the album is generally quite good, I feel they are not playing to their strengths. I really don't want such a talented band to fall in to the trap of playing blander, less challenging music.
what does everyone else reckon?
yep
couldn't agree more.
i adore silent alarm, and compared to that album, weekend just sounds a bit flat.
i also thought kele's lyrics played a big part in the quality of silent alarm, but some of the lyrics in their new album, and in this song particularly cut right through me.
its still a lot better than most of the "indie" stuff around now though
nope
Hoorah if Bloc Party take some of the masses away from the kooks etc of today, but i think you're wrong saying the 2nd album is worse than the first. they both have separate strengths and i think the 2nd album has really come out strong lyrically. i find the songs much more thought-provoking and influential than the first album.
I like this
I was worried it was going to get a kicking because this is their out and out 'pop' moment...
^^
I find
his lyrics and his style of singing on this album a little hard to digest aswell. It's sometimes a bit too much, if I dare say, a little cheesy.
I liked the way his melodies in Silent Alarm were quite punchy and urgent. They sound over produced and too high in the mix for the style he is adopting in this album. They therefore seem unsettled and slightly annoying.
But like I said, the album is still pretty good.
I like this
not my fave songs of theirs but still a good tune..reminds me of the cure strangely enough ; )
BLOC PARTY SUCK
LAME.
This song is SO BORING
The new album irritates me so much. And, they seem to like all the worst songs off it. They never play On live, far and away the best song on it. ARG
Well Said
They shouldve released On, not this u2 b-side. In fact, the review describes 'ON' much better than it does I Still Remember!
Good band, bad single choice
I'm not convinced
by Damian/Martbowski's argument about this being their definitive 'pop moment'. 'Little Thoughts' is also poppy but still energetic and sounds different to other bands, unlike this which is, like 'Two More Years', bland and unrepresentative of the band's other work.
heh
'i still remember' and 'two more years' are my favourite bloc party songs
which goes to show how big a fan i am
brilliant song
I...
...love this song, along with both their albums. Definitely one of the only worthwhile indie bands in this country at the moment.
this is horrid
Im sure this is the track about not snogging the bloke in the canal. Just rubbish. You'll never be Moz Kele. Focus on writing catchy music rather than this..... rubbish.
Anyone else think the game is up? The second lp is so fucking poor. They could be the next Menswear.
i think
I prefer sensitive Bloc Party to post-punk Bloc Party. This is quite nice.
when i first
heard the album this really stuck out to me as a song that the record company had said 'we haven't got a single'...i mean it works well as a single but it doesn't work on the record for me.
this song
makes me sick
horrible lyrics
so 6th form it hurts
It's a lovely, lovely song,
really uplifting on the album, but lame on its own.
'Hunting For Witches' for next single, please. With 3 or 4 brand new b-sides that aren't remixes. Chop chop.
i
think it is one of the weaker songs on an otherwise brilliant record! yes Hunting for Withces should be the next single or uniform :)
lovely review
indeed i sense most people will hate this tune because it is so easily marketable, i hear it everytime a football match goes to break on the tellie, and repeating a song WILL kill it. like OceanStorm, i think i prefer sensitive Bloc Party more than post-punk Bloc Party. don't give up on them just yet.
Average at best
This meanders far too much to encourage any excitment. There's a hundred and one better songs than this on A Weekend In The City. Even the songs that aren't on the album are better than it.
Uniform would have been the perfect choice, not this radio friendly cop-out of a song.
Show your balls Bloc Party.
Eeee.
I really loved this song as soon as I heard it, the melody is great and while the lyrics could be improved, I think he means them and I do like his voice.
As for it being in context with the album I think it is essential because its pretty melody is refreshing when it's bunched in between the songs what have a bit more heavy themes and that.
Not a brilliant album, but a very good one that I'd say is the best I've heard this year so far!
And...
I dunno, this is the most instantly likeable one for me and I reckon most people would think the same, Uniform is good but it takes a bit to grow on people.
In a sense I agree though; they should show the public what their real sound is and what 90% of the album is all about.