Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City

From the first few seconds, Bloc Party's sophomore album is already setting itself up for a fall. "I am trying to be heroic in an age of modernity" is a jolting opening line in a time when other bands would rather boast about their sloppy laundry habits, but whilst credit is due to Kele Okereke for at least trying to say something, his messages are rarely backed up with memorable tunes.

Astute observations about teenagers conforming to commercialised rebellion ("I am a martyr / I just need a motive... I'm finding it hard to break the mould"), xenophobic newspaper messages ("the enemy's among us /taking our women and taking our jobs") and comments on institutional racism ("I want to stamp on the face of every young policeman / to break the fingers of every old judge") rub shoulders alongside lines as cringeworthy as "I'm feeling like I'm doing all the talking, the dance-room's mine", and "Spend all your spare time trying to escape with crosswords and sudoku."

So it's half socio-political commentary, and half "constant partying in London makes me feel so empty" angst, but Okereke exposes himself to such criticism by insisting that every line be so specific – it just can't be interpreted in any other way. Silent Alarm's lyrics were harder to pin down, but at least that album had an endearing enthusiasm in the music to hold on to. Songs like 'Banquet', 'Helicopter' and 'Like Eating Glass' rode a balance between Coldplay-scale glisten and Britain's new-found love for post-punk angles - and were suprisingly enjoyable after a few shandies. In contrast to that youthful exuberance, A Weekend In The City is a mid-20s crisis, the come-down of age and experience. Following a well-worn trend, Weekend... is their terribly self-conscious, over-wrought, "trying to be heroic" second album. It's minor chords and driving drums and serious faces; it's Bloc Party taking a new direction and heading straight for emo. With less pressure on album number three, let's hope a relaxed Kele and co. can celebrate the better times - just a teeny bit more. [Ally Brown]