Sophomore curse. It’s legendary. It’s what all bands fear when they begin working on their second albums. The pressure is on, and the real test of their talents will be to produce something as good or better than their debuts. They want to prove that their musical achievements aren’t just flukes.

Now, some people may say no one should compare a band’s debut album with its sophomore release, but when a band produces a sound that establishes itself as a band and keeps fans wanting more, it should continue to make albums that are up to the standard that it has already set forth with the debut.

The sophomore curse has surfaced in many albums: The Killer’s Sam’s Town, Snoop Dogg’s The Doggfather, Taking Back Sunday’s Where You Want to Be and Breaking Benjamin’s We Are Not Alone. These are few cases in the list of dozens of sophomore breakdowns.

The Killers might be the strongest case. Their debut release Hot Fuss from 2004 got stunning reviews from critics and music junkies alike. And the band’s album reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, scoring the most with its hottest song “Mr. Brightside.” Hot Fuss also got The Killers nominated for many Grammys, including Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song in 2005.

The Killers’ newest and sophomore release Sam’s Town hit the top of the charts its first few weeks, but only because of the rave that Hot Fuss created worldwide. Sam’s Town‘s only success seems to be the one song, “When You Were Young.”

The sophomore curse ate up The Killers, but that was its last victim.

The most recent display of a terrible failure with sophomore album is Bloc Party’s A Weekend in the City. The album failed to measure up to the band’s debut release, Silent Alarm. Silent Alarm is full of amazing beats and lyrics to accompany them.

This new album would have fans rethinking their love for the indie band from Essex England.

Although lead vocals Kele Okereke still carries out that melodic hum in his voice, any listener would get lost in the atrocious beats found in almost every song on the new album. The only song worth noting is “I still Remember,” which doesn’t compare to the brilliance of “Modern Love,” “Like Eating Glass,” “Tulips” or “Positive Tension.”

A Weekend in the City is disappointing. Although some songs have good parts and “I still Remember” is up to par with the last album, this release just can’t compare.

A Weekend in the City and Sam’s Town have me wondering if all of my favorite bands are going to fall to the dreaded sophomore curse.