this was pretty disappointing the first time (or two) i listened to it. go forth, the most recent savy fav full length, seemed like it may have been excessively keen on what we euphemistically call "pop sensibilities," and short on the talking heads-style quirkiness that makes this band so much fun.
there is definitely a lot of pavement influence on here, but it manages to provide some good (lyrics like "can we declare, though scared / this room to be a sovereign state / where citizens share skins / and sins and copulate") with the bad (the mindless pop of "reprobate's resume"). both of the throwaway mopey tracks ("one to three," "adopduction"), can be forgotten after upbeat, jittery rockers like "the slip" and "pills". still, there shouldn't be this much mediocrity on anything by a band that seems to have so much fun on stage.
this is superior to a lot of things out there, but it could be much better. save the money for the show.