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Comedown Machine
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Barnes and Noble
Comedown Machine
Current price: $10.39
Barnes and Noble
Comedown Machine
Current price: $10.39
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Size: CD
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Arriving a relatively quick two years after
,
reunites
with producer
, but the results sound a lot less slick and overwrought. Instead,
provides a clean, intimate sound that feels like a natural progression for the band, with a mix of chugging guitars and synths that feels more organic and less like blatant '80s worship (and also bears a striking similarity to
' solo album
). Likewise, most of
' uneven but entertaining tangents are smoothed away, making it one of
' more consistent albums in some time. True to its name, however,
is also some of the band's most subdued music: there are fewer uptempo songs than might be expected, and even when their amps are cranked,
aren't exactly carefree. "All the Time"'s refrain of "You're livin' too fast" is a far cry from "Room on Fire"'s "Please don't slow me down if I'm going too fast," and on the album's most quintessential rocker, "50/50,"
snarls "Don't judge me" over artfully mussed guitars in a way that feels more defensive than defiant. For most of
, the band uses some of its prettiest melodies -- and some impressive falsetto vocals -- to craft a vulnerable, quietly confrontational mood on songs like "Tap Out" and "Slow Animals," which has an almost soulful roundness to its melody as
wonders, "Is it gone?" They venture deeper into this softer territory on the album's title track, which rivals
's "Ask Me Anything" in its dreamy introspection, and on "Chances," which boasts soft-focus keyboards that flirt with chillwave. At times, the band's precise playing and
's pristine production border on airless and only emphasize the fact that
left the reckless charm of
behind years ago. However, their flair for hooks and melodies is as strong as ever, particularly on "Partners in Crime," "Welcome to Japan," and "One Way Trigger," which sets pre-life crisis laments to a perky keyboard riff reminiscent of
's "Take on Me."
' most mature music yet,
is a solidly enjoyable album, even if it lacks some of the band's previous spark. ~ Heather Phares