With , it was clear that , while still strong, was no longer the ideal vehicle for its frontman . He sounded much more comfortable on , the first album that broke free from the - restraints, allowing him to indulge in psychedelia. That, along with his stellar contribution to the soundtrack, suggested that had aspirations of being a singer/songwriter, so it's not a surprise at all that he decided to tie those two loose ends together to provide the foundation for his solo debut album, . Those expecting a slab of metal from will be disappointed, but it's hard to feel sorry for them, since they were evidently not really listening to the last few records. There's no question that it's a rock album, but it's a shaded, textured rock album, lacking the grinding sludge and furious rock that were his previous band's stock-in-trade, yet it's undeniably of a piece with . Thankfully, doesn't have the shiny arena rock gloss that gave 's masterpiece. True, it is a clean, big production, but it's organic, which means that it doesn't sound unnatural when dives into blues ("When I'm Down") or when he suggests with the beginning of "Preaching the End of the World." That kind of flexibility is what was missing from , and it keeps fascinating, since it's unclear what's coming next, even if it all sounds of a piece. It's a mature album without being overly somber. It could be argued that it sounds a little too mature and possibly a little self-conscious, but that just emphasizes the real craft behind . knew exactly where he wanted to go as a solo artist, and he's achieved it. If it doesn't satisfy some dyed-in-the-wool fans, that's too bad, since it will undoubtedly win the affections of open-minded listeners who haven't before considered him a serious songwriter or musician. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine