After one album that was stuck in the '80s and one that tipped too far in the direction of slick radio pop, 's third album, and first to be self-produced, shows the band finally starting to forge some kind of unique identity. starts off with a four-song segment that downplays their love of '80s pop, adds some '90s grit, and has a tougher, more exciting sound, bringing in fuzzy shoegaze guitars, punchy tempos, and impassioned vocals. It's a bracing start and at least one of the songs, the opening "Bad Love," sounds like a sure-fire hit single. The others get the arrangements just right and have cute little bits that stand out like shards of glass on a sidewalk; the vocal counterpoint between and on the dramatic "Beautiful" and the keening guitar lead on "Sleepwalking" are two fine examples. They sound like a totally revitalized group, brushing away the gauzy haze of previous efforts with a forceful wave of their hands. The rest of the album features a couple other uptempo tracks that have some real bite ("If You Hate Me" and "Keep Up"), some light modern pop that sounds like the better songs on , and a sophisticated ballad or two. If it's not a huge jump forward, is at very least a big step in the right direction. ~ Tim Sendra