if it was actually good.

just wants to be a Morrissey-type figure fronting Kid A-period Radiohead. The general consensus is that he's failing in achieving either.

They should make the music that they're comfortable making, without any concern for their fanbase, in my opinion.

It's not as jarring a move as Flux from AWITC was, and Flux sold very well.

and the first single from the The Prayer. I don't think the fans have much to be worried about. Plus, I like the fact that their singles are quite the unpredictable.

I mean it's fairly unlikely I'll ever buy another Bloc Party album 'cos I thought the first one was largely mediocre (bar two or three good songs) and couldn't be arsed with AWITC 'cos I had no reason to believe I'd enjoy it more than the first BUT I am impressed they've shown a willingness to experiment and take a risk that they might alienate their fanbase and I hope it pays off for them...

that when he makes music, he prefers to just try his hardest to NOT BE BORING, and NOT BE 'JUST FOUR GUYS WITH GUITARS' but something REALLY DIFFERENT.

Fair enough, but if you fail so fucking badly like they have done with this song, don't expect any respect from anyone you silly prick.

that this 'new' direction is down to kele?

who produced this? Are they working with mark ronson or something, what with all the horns and stuff?!
It's an alright song, just only the drums and vocals sound remotely "classic" bloc party.

Ok so It's not great, but I've heard worse.

maybe because they made a big deal out of it with the countdown gettin alot of people excited about possible new song and its tbh very very disapointing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siiQB46JwLA

and utterly ace. If you were to ask me 'if I like it' at this very second, my only possible response would be to drop my trousers and pants and do a meatspin.

Whee!

Massive lollishment at anyone upset over it though.

if it doesn't alienate at least *some* of your fanbase.

when I heard flux

I was so excited when I discovered Bloc Party way back when She's Hearing Voices, Helicopter & Positive Tension dominated my playlists. Was seriously disappointed by A Weekend In The City, just can't buy into it. Flux is alright, but Mercury....what's going on, it sounds like a shoddy film soundtrack.

One thing to point out though is I don't think it'll be drum machines, it will be Matt doing the drum parts, he's possibly the best thing about the band.

Surely they're doing the same thing they did with AWITC, releasing a 'crunk' song to get our attention and then giving us a slightly above-average album.
Could someone explain to me what Kele means by "my mercury's in retrograde', please? Just sounds like a cryptic crossword clue to me. Saying that, I do like this song, not as much as The Prayer or Flux though.
I agree that Matt's an awesome drummer.

It's...It looks like it would be better suited to a darkly whimsical Unicorns/Islands song. It's odd. But I like the video. I don't like the song that much.

I like the horns though. Really love the horns. Sound like they're from an old horror film or film noir or something, although they aren't really that high in the mix.

should always seek to alienate all fans all the time. That's the only way to rid themselves of the braindead who like a "style" of music.

its actually really good

try it and see.

Jez and Superhans would come up with.

is the seemingly naive assumption that the instruments band members play due to the necessities of a 'live' format have anything to do with what they may do in the studio.

just because a recording has no guitar sounds on it, doesnt mean that someone who has played guitar on stage has been sacked.

Which is disappointing to me, because I didn't think Flux was that bad.

there's no pleasing some people.

Ok, so the song isn't *amazing*, but don't criticise them for taking a new direction and trying different things out.

Yeah, ok, some people will feel alienated by this track. But that's their problem, not Bloc Party's. They could be producing Banquet covers from here until eternity. But instead they're going for something different. And I've admired BP for that, even if it doesn't always work, it's good that they try.

IMO, Mercury is a lot more interesting than most of their stuff. And the video is fucking weird.

this band really do suck.

but has anyone else noticed how much the chorus sounds like Burial's Etched Headplate?

Basically Kele saw the popularity of all this shitty indie electro disco pop whatever the fuck you want to call it, and decided to jump on the bandwagon.

What a douche.

I'm sensing more of a M.I.A influence. Maybe a more ecclectic jungle direction for new album?

although i did listen to "everything's in..." to hear it done properly.
Nice to be surprised though, expecting a kid A though

the more i think it harks back to silent alarm's sound more than anything they've done since. it's like a really slickly produced 'positive tension'. I still think the song's a bit shit, but the more I hear it, the more I realise it's not that much of a departure, just incredibly messy.

I keep thinking I'm on the verge of at least "appreciating" this but no... it's just awful. I think I would even listen to their most rubbish b-side to be honest. So, so disappointing.

and last night I sat and listened to it a couple of times and I actually quite enjoyed it...

...but not as much as their other stuff.

but I'm actually growing to like the song or find it listenable. The verses are actually quite good, and when the drum kicks in it starts to sound good.

The chorus is still embarrassingly bad though and the video is godawful. Also for Bloc Party it still is disappointing.

"Ma mercury's in retrograde" is one fucking horrible hook mind, and it is completely cringe worthy and embarrassing for the band still though.

Mercury. :I