reintroduced after almost four years of side projects and hiatuses. The musical climate had shifted considerably in that time, a fact that wasn't lost on the band. blatantly brought to the surface the influence that was always lurking in 's sound, and used it to frame 's more serious interpretation of the band's groove. and both amped up the blue-collar, revivalist feel of 's dropping in triumphant power chord changes to ensure arena readiness. But also took a page from 's Big Book of Epic Songwriting, padding 's center with ambitious balladry and a nearly ten-minute story-song, that wouldn't be out of place on a '70s album. Elsewhere, the hit single wisely aimed for the verdant pastures pointed to by with 1991's instead of gripping stupidly to the Aqua-Netted mane of power balladry. Some of the album's straightforward songs faltered, since they didn't sizzle like the band's vintage material and fell flat next to more inspired material like But while miles of open highway separated the songwriting of and his mates from that of , deserves plenty of points for ambition, and it did succeed in updating the band's sound -- even if the replacement parts were bought used. ~ Johnny Loftus