With , finally sounds like a confident, poised outfit rather than a work-in-progress. It may lack some of the highlights of , but makes up for it through consistency and pacing. still explores the shadowlands between acoustic and electronic sounds, but the experimentation is more focused here, more in support of the song. The duo of and remains at the group's core, but longtime collaborator sits this one out, and as a result has a sparser, less-textured feel than its predecessor. The clinking, clanging, buzzing, and scraping are still present, as well as the occasional burst of controlled feedback -- something that has followed this crew since the days of . But the underlying songs are stronger than before. display 's often-buried melodic gift, while though brief, is possibly 's finest stab at a postmodern song, as well as his most blatant testament of love for 's . is on acid and is a rattling slide guitar romp full of surrealistic non sequiturs. The musical accompaniment -- replete with fiddles, tape loops, and kitchen-sink percussion -- is always understated and appropriate; the embellishments never hijack the songs. It's perhaps natural to view as a companion piece to ; the two bands have toured together, they emerged from the same milieu, and they both tinker in hybridization. The comparison is somewhat valid -- the albums do share a similar feel. But easily stands on its own, and is less a bold statement of principle as it is a blossoming into maturity. ~ Jason Nickey