Bloc Party

“Nextwave Sessions”

Frenchkiss/Co Op

It is always a shame when a band’s best work comes in its debut — such high hopes for the future, so much potential hinted at, yet the band can never seem to put it together again. Hi, Bloc Party. The group’s 2005 “Silent Alarm” was universally acclaimed, while the three full albums since then have been disappointingly lethargic and unfocused. Now the band has come out with a five-song EP at almost the same time as it has announced an indefinite hiatus. This leaves one to assume that either the band is an insincere bunch that is using a threatened breakup to stimulate renewed interest, or that it really doesn’t give a shit anymore. New “Nextwave Sessions” is an indifferent regurgitation of the last five songs the group found lying on the recording room floor. It’s questionable whether either is worth your money or time. CV

Glen Campbell

“See You There”

Surfdog Records

Here’s a harsh reality: Glen Campbell has probably reached the end of his road. The country music legend is 77 and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Campbell embarked on a “Goodbye Tour” in 2012, and now we see the release of “See You There,” a collection of Campbell’s favorite work, re-tooled and released under a title that’s a more than subtle hint at finality. As a swan song, the album does itself justice. More than a simple “best of” album, Campbell manages to breathe new life into songs like “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Wichita Lineman” with arrangements that are bold in their simplicity, and both tracks are made better by the weight of experience that only time can provide. Campbell’s voice has not wavered or weakened with age and disease, and his work here is as befitting a farewell as any artist could possibly ask for. CV