With their major-label debut, rode the bandwagon to commercial success with a combination of crunchy guitars and angst-filled lyrics; the follow-up, 1997's , was more introspective and stripped-down, almost turning 1995's into "Americana Standard." It stiffed. So, for , they take chunks of both predecessors and come up with a scattered work, one that's not quite sure if it wants to be another dip in the radio well or a soul-searching, acoustic-guitar-strumming personal statement. If it was up to , it would probably be the latter. His musically intimate songs (like the radio hit ) are more focused, thoughtful and tuneful; the big numbers, however, are as awful as anything that's come from 's floodgates opening. This album reflects the sound of a band at the crossroads. ~ Michael Gallucci