After 2005’s highly promising Silent Alarm, London’s Bloc Party is feeling the pressure. Critics everywhere are challenging the group to resemble the next U2 or Coldplay. But on Weekend in the City, the band tries to steer clear of the Coldplay clone syndrome plaguing American and English music, with slightly above average results.

Instead of being a band the critics wish the band would be, Bloc Party always resembled a modern take on 80s new wave superstars the Police than the previously mentioned groups. The band dives into some experimental territory and in the end doesn’t not meet the potential shown on Silent Alarm.

The music sounds more determined and poignant on Weekend, starting with the lead track “Song For Clay.” Lead singer Kele Okereke’s cockney swagger is hidden behind a falsetto throughout most of the song, but still starts the album off well enough. When the singer recites the line “East London is a vampire,” Okereke’s voice resembles more of the early 80s new wave that the band is heavily influenced by. The group gets political on “Hunting for Witches,” where the band shares a common view of people in the 25-35 age bracket of lost optimism and paranoia.

Lead single “The Prayer” sounds like a Radiohead-style track, before descending into a slinky dance track which would sound in place at a swanky club as well as at a sweaty concert hall. Tracks like “I Still Remember” go off on another tangent, sounding more like a 90s American alt-rock style track than anything coming out of England. And the drum-n-bass track, “When Is Home?” sounds absolutely like nothing the group has done before.

The band does struggle to not sound like groups like Snow Patrol, but comes dangerously close on tracks like “Uniform” and “On,” which for yawn-inducing moments. These moments pop up more than you would hope, but most of those moments don’t ruin the album.

Weekend is a decent follow-up, but lacks the fire and passion of Silent Alarm at times. Definitely not a slump, but it doesn’t top the debut record.

GRADE: B