Ellington

With a bevy of EP's and 12-inch singles under their belt over the past year, Bloc Party unleash their scorching debut album. This is crisp and manic British post punk, hook laden guitar party rock, and indie dance punk taken to the highest level of pop musicianship. Their intense and tight shifting tempos are inspired by The Pixies, Wire, Radiohead ["The Bends," "My Iron Lung"], Adorable and early Cure. They elicit the primal energy found on last year's debut from Franz Ferdinand, The Bravery, or The Futureheads - in spades. This is perhaps the most powerful debut since Vice Records label mates The Stills and Interpol's "Turn on the Bright Lights," and is easily a best of contender for 2005. Bloc Party performs in New Orleans at One-Eyed Jacks (old Shim Sham) on Fri., June 10. 615 Toulouse St., 504-569-8361 www.oneeyedjacks.net