** 1/2 HOTHOUSE FLOWERS “Home” <i> London</i> :<i> Albums are rated from five stars (a classic) to one star (poor). </i>

Anyone who saw the Flowers’ Los Angeles shows in ’88 and ’89 knows that the Dublin lads have got the boogie in their soul--their live roof-raisers sometimes rivaled the Southern romps of classic Leon Russell or Delaney & Bonnie from an earlier rock era. But the gospel-influenced rave-ups that punctuate the band’s second album call into question how much soul it can squeeze from the boogie. Such manic exercises as the opening “Hardstone City” and a slow-then-speedy version of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” gallop along without direction. You expect more from a band that was hailed as a leader for the ‘90s following its 1988 debut.

On the other end of the scale are a handful of folk-soul hybrids, most notably “Christchurch Bells,” that show off Liam O’Maonlai’s rich voice (equal parts Irish forebears Bono and Van Morrison) and convey an earnest, though vague, intent to inspire. But they hardly approach similar efforts by the Waterboys, not to mention Morrison himself. What works best is the middle ground: “Give It Up” and the Middle Eastern-ish “Water” canter seductively, the music fleshing out the otherwise sketchy lyrics that characterize the record.

A sophomore slump? Only a coming tour and third album will tell.