Intimacy (Bloc Party album)

Last updated

You know what the parameters are. You aren't stifled by having too much choice. You know what you have to do in this time frame to make it work. Whereas if we had a whole year in a studio it would have been a very different record. That's the conditions that Bloc Party thrive under: having to work quickly. [5]

Kele Okereke, on Bloc Party's methods during the recording of Intimacy

In mid-2008, Bloc Party attended secret sessions at studios in the south-east of England. [3] [6] The band aimed to use a similar process to the creation of "Flux", which was crafted in a week. [7] Paul Epworth and Jacknife Lee—from Bloc Party's previous albums, Silent Alarm and A Weekend in the City, respectively—returned to the production staff for Intimacy, because the band members felt that they had "unfinished business" with both. [8] Okereke has stated that having two producers allowed for musical experimentation. [7] Epworth focused on capturing the dynamic of a live band by working on fully developed songs and emphasising the rhythm section in the mix. [9] [10] Lee aided the band members' evolution towards a more electronic style by creating tracks with them. [9] [11] Each producer worked on five of the record's original ten tracks. [5]

According to Okereke, Bloc Party wanted to make something as stylised as R&B or electronica, [12] combining the rawness of Silent Alarm and the recording experience gained from A Weekend in the City. [8] The frontman drew inspiration from Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1988 song "Peek-a-Boo" and aimed to create "rock interpretations of dance". [4] [8] The band worked by initially performing soundchecks with only guitar chords, keyboard notes, and drum beats. [4] Discussing the interplay between rhythm guitarist Okereke and lead guitarist Russell Lissack, Epworth has stated that "Kele will do one thing that creates a great deal of impact, whereas Russell's very good at subtle embellishments and leading the melodic side of things outside of the vocal". [10] The band members decided to record the first ten tracks crafted after judging first ideas to often be the best. [7] They "thrived" under the pressure of timed sessions, which lasted only two weeks. [3]

Moakes has indicated that there was no worry about whether a song could be recreated live in concert in the same way as it would appear on record. [13] A brass section and a chamber choir were hired as additional musicians. [6] Drum machines and distorted guitars were used more extensively than in Bloc Party's previous works to create a sense of manipulation to the basic rock palette. [12] Drummer Matt Tong was initially sceptical of moulding songs with programmed drums, as opposed to using his physical output, but agreed to the idea when the band recorded some of the tracks in their entirety. [9] On some songs, the guitars were disregarded and the band focused solely on the beat. Okereke's voice was often used as an instrument by being looped, vocoded, or run through effects pedals. [2]

Promotion and release

After the studio sessions, Bloc Party embarked on a tour of North American and European summer festivals. [7] One of the recorded tracks, "Mercury", was released as a single on 11 August 2008 and peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. [14] [15] At the time, the band confirmed the existence of further material, but noted that a record release date was scheduled for the end of 2008 at the earliest. [14] Bloc Party unexpectedly announced the completion of Intimacy on 18 August 2008 via a webcast and confirmed a release within 60 hours. [16] The band members wanted to revive the importance of a new album's release in an era in which the excitement has dissipated because of extensive Internet coverage. [5] They were inspired by Radiohead's marketing of In Rainbows in 2007, but did not consider a "free" sale option. [17] Little press was undertaken in the UK to promote the record because of Okereke's reluctance to discuss personal aspects of his life. [12]

Bloc Party during a performance of songs from Intimacy at the 2008 Reading Festival days after the album's online release Blocpartyreading2008B.jpg
Bloc Party during a performance of songs from Intimacy at the 2008 Reading Festival days after the album's online release

Intimacy was made available for download on Bloc Party's website on 21 August 2008. [5] Ten MP3 tracks were sold with a plain black JPEG cover for £5, and a £10 option for the online songs and the future expanded CD was also available. [16] The album title was picked as a "double bluff" with regard to people's expectations; Okereke has explained, "You'd think of wet balladeering. You don't think it's gonna be ugly or harsh. But that's what relationships are really like. It's not just about good times." [5] The release was called "rushed" by publications such as Billboard and The Independent . [2] [16] Tong disagreed with the label and stated that Bloc Party wanted to make a statement that was surprising to anyone interested in their work. [13]

The band showcased tracks from Intimacy at Reading Festival at the end of August 2008 and embarked on a North American tour during September. [16] [18] UK appearances on the MTV2 Gonzo Tour and the release of the second single, "Talons", preceded the physical release of the album in October, [2] [5] which entered the UK Albums Chart at number eight. [15] In the US, the record sold 24,000 copies during the first week of release and debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200. [19] By August 2012 it had sold 85,000 copies in the United States. [20] Comprehensive sales figures have not been published because the digital download data has not been publicly reported by Bloc Party. [16] The chosen cover art is a stylised shot of a couple kissing, taken by freelance photographer Perry Curties. [6] It was ranked at number 23 on Gigwise's list of The Best Album Covers of 2008, in which the publication called it "intimate and rather ambiguous". [21]

Content

Lyrics

The lyrics of Intimacy were inspired by a relationship break-up Okereke went through at the end of 2007. The lyricist told Rolling Stone , "I wouldn't want anyone to think it's the clichéd break-up record but I haven't written about true, personal experiences all that much in the past." [17] The move to more intimate subject matter was "semi-conscious" because the band members did not want to focus on socio-political issues as they had in their previous works. [13] Three tracks allude to Greek mythology: "Ares" draws its name from the god of war, "Trojan Horse" is named after the Trojan War military ruse, and "Zephyrus" draws its name from the god of the west wind. [6] The narrative in the songs occurs between two people and focuses on the relations between lovers, friends, and enemies; Okereke indicated that "it's about moments of shared vulnerability". [12] "Better Than Heaven" references the Garden of Eden and Corinthians (15:22), [6] because the lyricist wanted to explore the themes of sex and death, especially in a biblical context. [12]

"Biko" means "Please" (or more accurately "I implore you") in Igbo—a language spoken in Nigeria, the homeland of Okereke's parents—and is used "when you're beseeching someone to do something". Okereke denied that it is about the murdered South African anti-apartheid protester Steve Biko. The lyrics of "One Month Off" reference feelings of anger and are about being in love with someone younger and unfaithful, while "Zephyrus" concerns an apology following neglect. [5] The lyrics in the chorus of "Ion Square", the last track on the original download release, are based on E. E. Cummings' poem "I Carry Your Heart with Me". [6] Okereke considers the song a personal favourite because it evokes the initial exciting stages of a new relationship when everything is going right. [17]

Composition

Okereke has discussed a natural progression in Bloc Party's compositional style to a more explorative, electronic direction. [4] For the opening track on Intimacy, "Ares", Okereke was inspired to rap his lyrics after listening to the old-school hip hop of Afrika Bambaataa. [7] According to Heather Phares of AllMusic, the song includes siren-like guitar chords and loud, complex drumming in the vein of dance acts The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers. [23] "Mercury" continues the complex drumming theme by incorporating layered percussion and contains a vocally manipulated chorus. [22] The track is an attempt at drum and bass and features brass dissonance, [7] [22] effects Okereke has called "harsh, glacial, layered and energetic". [16] "Zephyrus" begins with a solitary vocal line accompanied only by a drum machine pattern, [22] while the Exmoor Singers provide background vocals in the rest of the composition. [6] "Signs" is the only song that does not include guitars; [22] instead, it is made up of a synthesiser pulse and multitracked samples of glockenspiel and mbira resembling the work of minimalist composer Steve Reich. [7]

Okereke has conceded that Intimacy covers Bloc Party's typical indie rock elements, [8] but noted that the guitars have an artificial and manipulated sound, "almost like all the humanity has been bleached out". [12] "Halo" has a fast tempo coupled with a guitar melody that uses only four chords, while "Trojan Horse" features syncopated guitars and distortion. [22] "Talons" also incorporates distortion from both lead and rhythm guitars, [22] while the final single "One Month Off" consists of tribal rhythms and sixteenth note guitar riffs. [9] [22] "Biko" has a slower tempo and includes guitar arpeggi throughout, while "Ion Square" incorporates guitar overdubbing and the use of hi-hat patterns throughout. [22] According to Nick Southall of Drowned in Sound , "Better Than Heaven" encapsulates what Bloc Party had been trying to achieve in their previous works, "namely aligning all their different directional desires: to swoon, to rock, and to experiment all at once". [24] The track features broken beats and layered vocals. [22]

Critical reception

Media response to Intimacy was generally favourable. According to review aggregator Metacritic, the album has an average critic review score of 69/100, based on 27 reviews. [25] Steven Robertshaw of Alternative Press described the album as arguably Bloc Party's finest career moment and noted that it offers "sweat and circuitry, savagery and submission, and a captivating energy that's severely lacking in many music scenes on the planet". [11] Kyle Anderson of Rolling Stone claimed that by "replacing Bloc Party's distant cool with vivid honesty, Okereke makes Intimacy a confident new peak for his band", [26] while PopMatters' Ross Langager explained that the record "might not actually be all that intimate, but it is a thing of rough, recycled beauty". [27] Adam Mazmanian of The Washington Times commented that the album's final mix showed that producers Epworth and Lee preserved the essence of Bloc Party's signature sound—"minor key rock thrumming with rhythmic intensity"—while taking the band in new musical directions. [28] Dave Simpson of The Guardian concluded that it would please old and new fans alike by being "brave, individual and heartfelt". [29]

Pitchfork's Ian Cohen was less receptive and asserted that the record seems like a document of a band disconnected from its musical strengths. [30] Josh Modell of Spin felt that Intimacy sometimes gets "sonically or lyrically precarious", [31] while John Robinson of Uncut commented that "there's an air of slightly hedged bets". [32] Drowned in Sound's Nick Southall claimed that the record is not quite the radical statement Bloc Party set out to achieve, but concluded that it is "definitely a little bit of invigorating redemption at a time when doubts were beginning to cloud what was, initially, a flawless reputation". [24] In its year-end music review for 2008, Under the Radar stated about the band members, "They are so solid and so confident that it seems inevitable that they will get many chances to slowly drift into more daring lands. But without more risk, they may be destined to make albums like Intimacy – accomplished and intriguing, but not life changing, not classic." [33] The record figured in several publications' end-of-year best album lists for 2008—notably, at number 14 by Gigwise, [34] at number 36 by Drowned in Sound, [35] and at number 49 by NME . [36]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bloc Party

Intimacy
Intimacy cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released21 August 2008 (2008-08-21)
RecordedFebruary–June 2008
Studio
Genre
Length48:04
Label Wichita
Producer
Bloc Party chronology
A Weekend in the City
(2007)
Intimacy
(2008)
Four
(2012)
Singles from Intimacy
  1. "Mercury"
    Released: 11 August 2008
  2. "Talons"
    Released: 20 October 2008
  3. "One Month Off"
    Released: 26 January 2009
No.TitleLength
1."Ares"3:30
2."Mercury"3:53
3."Halo"3:36
4."Biko"5:01
5."Trojan Horse"3:32
6."Signs"4:40
7."One Month Off"3:39
8."Zephyrus"4:35
9."Talons"4:43
10."Better Than Heaven"4:22
11."Ion Square"6:33
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Letter to My Son"4:26
13."Your Visits Are Getting Shorter"4:21
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Letter to My Son"4:26
13."Your Visits Are Getting Shorter"4:21
14."Talons" (acoustic)4:32
15."Signs" (acoustic)3:24
North American bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Letter to My Son"4:26
13."Your Visits Are Getting Shorter"4:21
14."Flux"3:36
15."Idea for a Story"5:04
16."Mercury" (CSS remix)4:07
17."Talons" (XXXChange remix)6:30
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Letter to My Son"4:26
13."Your Visits Are Getting Shorter"4:21
14."Flux"3:36
15."Talons" (acoustic)4:32
16."Signs" (acoustic)3:24
2009 re-release
No.TitleLength
12."Letter to My Son"4:26
13."Your Visits Are Getting Shorter"4:21
14."One More Chance"4:39
Rolling Stone Presents Bloc Party Remixed
No.TitleLength
1."Mercury" (CSS Remix)4:04
2."Talons" (Midfield General Dub)10:18
3."One Month Off" (Filthy Dukes Vocal)5:45
4."Letter to My Son" (Gold Panda Remix)5:30

Vinyl

Personnel

The people involved in the making of Intimacy are the following: [6]

Chart positions

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormat(s)Catalog
World21 August 2008Wichita RecordingsDigital download
Europe24 October 2008 Universal Records Deluxe CD3629185 [59]
Wichita RecordingsCDWEBB185 [6]
United Kingdom and Ireland27 October 2008CD, deluxe CD, digital download, LP
North America28 October 2008AtlanticCD, LP512336 [60]
Deluxe CD, digital download512335 [61]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloc Party</span> English indie rock band

Bloc Party are an English rock band that was formed in London in 1999 by co-founders Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack. They are joined in the band's current iteration by Louise Bartle and touring bassist Harry Deacon. Former members Matt Tong, Gordon Moakes and Justin Harris left the band in 2013, 2015 and 2023 respectively. Their brand of music, whilst rooted in rock, retains elements of other genres such as electronica and house music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kele Okereke</span> English singer and guitarist

Rowland Kelechukwu "Kele" Okereke, also known mononymously as Kele, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the indie rock band Bloc Party. Additionally, he has released six studio albums as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Moakes</span> Musical artist

Gordon Peter Moakes is an English musician, best known as the bassist of rock band Young Legionnaire and former member of indie rock band Bloc Party.

<i>Silent Alarm</i> 2005 studio album by Bloc Party

Silent Alarm is the debut studio album by English rock band Bloc Party. Recorded in Copenhagen and London in mid-2004 with Paul Epworth as producer, it was released on 2 February 2005, by Wichita Recordings. The album peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. In the United States, it entered the Billboard 200 at number 114 and the Billboard Independent Albums at number seven. The double A-side "So Here We Are/Positive Tension", "Banquet" and "The Pioneers" were released as singles. Silent Alarm went on to achieve worldwide sales of over one million copies.

<i>Silent Alarm Remixed</i> 2005 remix album by Bloc Party

Silent Alarm Remixed is the remix album to Silent Alarm, the debut album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 29 August 2005 in the British Isles on Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label, and on 13 September 2005 in the United States through Vice Records to coincide with Bloc Party's worldwide touring schedule. The record peaked at number 54 on the UK Albums Chart. In the US, it achieved a peak of number four on the Billboard Top Electronic Albums.

Paul Richard Epworth is an English record producer, songwriter, musician, and remixer. He has worked with artists including Adele, Florence and the Machine, Rihanna, and Maxïmo Park, among many others. He is a member of the Music Producers Guild and is the founder and owner of the independent record label Wolf Tone, which has released music from Glass Animals, Rosie Lowe, and The Horrors.

<i>A Weekend in the City</i> 2007 studio album by Bloc Party

A Weekend in the City is the second studio album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was recorded at Grouse Lodge Studios in Westmeath, Ireland, in mid-2006 and was produced by Jacknife Lee. The album was refined and mixed at several locations in London at the end of 2006. It was released on 24 January 2007 in Japan and in the first week of February in the rest of the world, with Wichita Recordings as the primary label. The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and on the Irish Albums Chart. In the United States, it entered the Billboard 200 at number 12.

<i>Yours Truly, Angry Mob</i> 2007 studio album by Kaiser Chiefs

Yours Truly, Angry Mob is the second studio album by English rock band Kaiser Chiefs. It was released on 23 February 2007 in Belgium and the Netherlands, 26 February 2007 in the rest of the world by B-Unique Records and in March in North America by Universal Motown. Produced by Stephen Street, who produced the band's debut album Employment, Yours Truly, Angry Mob is lyrically darker and more socially aware than its predecessor, with tracks dealing with street crime, violence, fame, and the inaccuracy of tabloid articles. The song "Boxing Champ" features drummer Nick Hodgson on lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banquet (song)</span> 2004 song by Bloc Party

"Banquet" is a song from British band Bloc Party's debut album Silent Alarm. Originally released on a double A-side single along with "Staying Fat" in May 2004 by Moshi Moshi Records, it was re-released as a regular single in the United Kingdom by Wichita Recordings on 25 April 2005. It was their first single to chart on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks where it came in at number 34, and is often credited as their breakthrough single in North America. It was also featured in the song "Bloc Party" on the Fort Minor Mixtape: We Major. It was ranked No. 31 in NME's top 100 tracks of the decade, and was number 54 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of all time. It peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2011, NME placed it at number 20 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". The song was featured in the 2018/19 video game Life Is Strange 2.

<i>Third</i> (Portishead album) 2008 studio album

Third is the third studio album by the English band Portishead. It was released on 28 April 2008 in the United Kingdom by Island Records and a day later in the United States by Mercury Records. Portishead's first studio album in eleven years, Third moved away from the trip hop style they had popularised, incorporating influences such as krautrock, surf rock, doo wop and the film soundtracks of John Carpenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloc Party discography</span>

The discography of Bloc Party, a British indie rock band, consists of six studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), and two remix albums released on primary label Wichita Recordings. Bloc Party were formed in 1999 by chief songwriter and frontman Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack. Bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong joined the band later. The first song by them that we know of is called “This Is Not A Competition” although it hasn't been officially released, it was the first song the band put on their official website. The quartet's first release was the Bloc Party EP in 2004; the first single, "She's Hearing Voices", was released and it failed to chart in the United Kingdom. The next EP, Little Thoughts was released the same year only in Japan; it included Bloc Party's first UK Top 40 entry, the double A-side "Little Thoughts/Tulips", which peaked at number 38.

<i>Intimacy Remixed</i> 2009 remix album by Bloc Party

Intimacy Remixed is the remix album to Intimacy, the third album by indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 11 May 2009 in the United Kingdom through Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label, in limited edition CD and triple LP formats to coincide with Bloc Party's worldwide touring schedule. The record entered the UK Album Chart at number 79. In the United States, it achieved a peak of number 15 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

<i>West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum</i> 2009 studio album by Kasabian

West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum is the third studio album by British indie rock band Kasabian, which was released on 5 June 2009. It was the band's first album not to feature Christopher Karloff, the band's lead guitarist and songwriter who departed during the writing stages of Empire (2006). Rhythm guitarist Sergio Pizzorno became lead songwriter and co-producer for the band. It is also their first album to feature guitar contributions from Tim Carter, who would become the band's touring guitarist in 2013 and a full-fledged member of the band in 2021.

<i>Total Life Forever</i> 2010 studio album by Foals

Total Life Forever is the second studio album by English indie rock band Foals, released on 10 May 2010 through Transgressive Records. Prior to the album's release, the band described it as sounding "like the dream of an eagle dying". It was produced by Luke Smith, and was recorded at Svenska Grammofon Studion in Gothenburg. Upon its release, the album charted in numerous countries worldwide, including number eight in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Four</i> (Bloc Party album) 2012 studio album by Bloc Party

Four is the fourth studio album by British rock band Bloc Party. It was recorded in late 2011 and early 2012 at Stratosphere Sound, New York City, with producer Alex Newport. Newport also produced Wreckonomics—the EP of bassist Gordon Moakes' side project, Young Legionnaire. It was released on 20 August 2012 on independent label Frenchkiss Records, and was made available to stream the week preceding its release. The album peaked at number 3 in the UK Albums Chart, and at number 36 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. It is the last album featuring the original line-up with Gordon Moakes and Matt Tong.

<i>In Dream</i> 2015 studio album by Editors

In Dream is the fifth studio album by British band Editors. It was produced by the band themselves and released on 2 October 2015 through PIAS Recordings.

<i>Hymns</i> (Bloc Party album) 2016 studio album by Bloc Party

Hymns is the fifth studio album by English indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released worldwide in January 2016 on BMG. The album was recorded between March and August 2015 at Lynchmob Studios in London, following a hiatus during which Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes departed the band. It is the first album to feature new band member Justin Harris on bass and keyboards. The songs "The Love Within", "The Good News", and "Virtue" were released as singles.

<i>Typhoons</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Royal Blood

Typhoons is the third studio album by English rock duo Royal Blood, released through Warner Records on 30 April 2021. A predominantly self-produced effort, the band recorded the album throughout 2019 and 2020. The album also marks a notable shift in the band's sound, pairing their usual alternative and hard rock sound with elements of dance-rock and disco. The album was preceded by three singles—"Trouble's Coming", "Typhoons", and "Limbo"—in addition to the promotional single "Boilermaker".

<i>Alpha Games</i> 2022 studio album by Bloc Party

Alpha Games is the sixth studio album by English indie rock band Bloc Party, released on 29 April 2022. It is the first studio album by the band since 2016's Hymns. It is notably the first album with drummer Louise Bartle, who joined the band after drum sessions for Hymns had been completed, and the first to feature significant songwriting input from Bartle and bassist Justin Harris with Hymns having been mostly written by lead singer Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack.

<i>This Is Why</i> 2023 studio album by Paramore

This Is Why is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Paramore, released on February 10, 2023 through Atlantic Records, their final studio album for the label. It is their first album since 2017, following After Laughter, and is the band's second album to have that lineup. The album was supported by four singles: "This Is Why", "The News", "C'est Comme Ça", and "Running Out of Time".

References

  1. Jonze, Tim (3 February 2007). "Depression alienation promiscuity drug-taking fear anger self-gratification...". NME . p. 20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Cumine, Gavin (20 October 2008). "Shadow play: How Bloc Party reinvented their sound". The Independent . Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 Cochrane, Greg (8 December 2008). "Bloc Party singer not 'content'". BBC . Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 O'Kane, Josh (18 September 2008). "Talking Bloc during Harvest Jazz". [Here] New Brunswick. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McLean, Craig (14 September 2008). "Surprise party – Bloc Party interview". Scotland on Sunday . Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Intimacy (CD booklet and case back cover). Bloc Party. London: Wichita Recordings. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bloc Party (Interview)". Fender. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Northover, Kylie (24 October 2008). "Party hearty". The Age . Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Earls, John. "Bloc Party get intimate". Planet Sound. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  10. 1 2 Inglis, Sam (January 2009). "Paul Epworth: Producing Almost Everyone". Sound on Sound . Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  11. 1 2 Robertshaw, Steven (December 2008). "In-Store Session: British Faves Mix Things Up, Remain Cohesive". Alternative Press . p. 144.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cottingham, Chris. "Bloc Party 'I Feel Like We Could Do Anything'". Dummy. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 "Bloc Party ditch the 'beaten path'". Canwest. 9 September 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Bloc Party unveil surprise new single on radio". NME . 7 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  15. 1 2 3 Peaks of singles in the UK:
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Paine, Andre (30 August 2008). "New Clicks on the Bloc". Billboard . p. 39.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Phull, Hardeep (20 August 2008). "Bloc Party's Kele Okereke on the New Album "10 People Knew About"". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  18. "Bloc Party bring 'Intimacy' to Reading Festival". NME . 23 August 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  19. Hasty, Katie (5 November 2008). "AC/DC album leads pop chart for second week". Reuters . Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  20. Lipshutz, Jason (21 August 2012). "Bloc Party Shakes Off Breakup Rumors, Comes Back Strong on 'Four'". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  21. Gigwise staff (16 December 2008). "The Best Album Covers of 2008!". Gigwise . Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Commercial sheet music for Intimacy. Wichita Recordings Music Publishing. October 2008. Distributed by International Music Publications.
  23. Phares, Heather. "Intimacy: Bloc Party". AllMusic . Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  24. 1 2 Southall, Nick (25 August 2008). "Bloc Party: Intimacy". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  25. "Intimacy by Bloc Party". Metacritic . Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  26. Anderson, Kyle (18 September 2008). "Bloc Party: Intimacy". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  27. Langager, Ross (29 August 2008). "Bloc Party: Intimacy". PopMatters . Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  28. Mazmanian, Adam (26 August 2008). "Listening Station: 'Intimacy' has the right touch". The Washington Times . Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  29. Simpson, Dave (29 August 2008). "Pop review: Bloc Party, Intimacy". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  30. Cohen, Ian (26 August 2008). "Bloc Party: Intimacy". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  31. Modell, Josh (24 October 2008). "Bloc Party, 'Intimacy' (Atlantic)". Spin . Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  32. Robinson, John. "Album Review: Bloc Party – Intimacy". Uncut . Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  33. Under the Radar staff (Fall 2008). "Year End Review 2008". Under the Radar (pull-out section).
  34. Gigwise staff (10 December 2008). "Gigwise's Top 50 Albums of 2008!". Gigwise. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  35. Adams, Sean (11 December 2008). "Drowned in Sound's 50 albums of 2008". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  36. NME staff (13 December 2008). "Best Albums of 2008". NME . p. 18.
  37. "Bloc Party to release 'Intimacy' remix album – exclusive". NME . 16 March 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  38. "Intimacy UK LP". Esprit International. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  39. "Intimacy USA LP Record". Esprit International. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  40. "Intimacy UK LP Picture Disc". Esprit International. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  41. "Australiancharts.com – Bloc Party – Intimacy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  42. "Austriancharts.at – Bloc Party – Intimacy" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  43. "Ultratop.be – Bloc Party – Intimacy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  44. "Ultratop.be – Bloc Party – Intimacy" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  45. "Bloc Party Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  46. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bloc Party – Intimacy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  47. "Lescharts.com – Bloc Party – Intimacy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  48. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bloc Party – Intimacy" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  49. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Bloc Party". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  50. "Italiancharts.com – Bloc Party – Intimacy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  51. インティマシー ブロック・パーティー (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  52. "Charts.nz – Bloc Party – Intimacy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  53. "Swisscharts.com – Bloc Party – Intimacy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  54. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  55. "Bloc Party Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  56. "Bloc Party Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  57. "Bloc Party Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  58. "Jaaroverzichten 2008". Ultratop. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  59. "Bloc Party – Intimacy". Ultratop . Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  60. "Intimacy USA CD Album". Esprit International. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  61. "Intimacy USA CD Album (Deluxe)". Esprit International. Retrieved 17 July 2009.