Grim guitar strumming quickly transforms into an unforgettable riff that truly belongs in the next version of ‘Guitar Hero.’

The first five minutes of Bloc Party’s sophomore album, “A Weekend in the City,” contain pretty much everything one could ask for when it comes to a great rock song.

Amazing guitar frets that harken back to some of the amazing hair metal of the ‘80s? Check.

A tempo that dares you not to move your body to the beat? You got it.

A beautiful British voice that combines the annunciation Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos with the melancholy lamentation of The Cure’s Robert Smith? Present.

Lyrics that were inspired by Bret Easton Ellis’ first novel, “Less Than Zero?” I think you’re starting to get the picture.

“Song For Clay” unleashes raw energy into the ears of unprepared listeners from the get-go. Grim guitar strumming quickly transforms into an unforgettable riff that truly belongs in the next version of “Guitar Hero.”

As soon as lead singer Kele Okereke’s voice is heard, the listener is transfixed on every single word he sings. Luckily, lines like “Bubbles rise in champagne flutes, / but when we kiss, I feel nothing” give us some amazing images to create in our heads while listening to the song.

Sadly, the rest of the album doesn’t maintain that same dizzying effect.

Few songs following “Clay” contain that intangible element that keeps it in the back of your mind for weeks on end. Unlike Bloc Party’s first album, “Silent Alarm,” where nearly every song becomes unforgettable, a majority of the tunes on “A Weekend in the City” are, regrettably, skip-worthy.

“The Prayer” is the album’s single, but I find it completely impossible to fall for the song because the beat is an uneven mess of off tempo moans and awkwardly synthesized noises.

Some highlights later on in the album include personal ballads like “Kreuzberg” and “SRXT.”

Both of these songs contain enough emotional intensity to keep the listener interested during repeat plays. However, these two songs stand alone as highlights of the end of the album.

Not holding up nearly as well as 2005's “Silent Alarm,” “A Weekend in the City” is an album that starts off with a great bang before concluding with an unremarkable burn.

My advice? Spend your $.99 on “Song For Clay,” then use the rest of your money to pick up Bloc Party’s fantastic first album.

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