By titling their third album and opening it with the African rhythmic experiment complete with nonsense lyrics by poet , make the record seem more of a departure than it is. Though is musically distinct from its predecessors, it's mostly because of the use of minor keys that give the music a more ominous sound. Previously, 's offbeat observations had been set off by an overtly humorous tone; on , he is still odd, but no longer so funny. At the same time, however, the music has become even more compelling. Worked up from jams (though received sole songwriter's credit), the music is becoming denser and more driving, notably on the album's standout track, with lyrics that match the music's power. "This ain't no party," declares , "this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around." The other key song, extends the dismissal had expressed for the U.S. in to paradise itself: "Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens." It's also the album's most melodic song. Those are the highlights. What keeps from being as impressive an album as ' first two is that much of it seems to repeat those earlier efforts, while the few newer elements seem so risky and exciting. It's an uneven, transitional album, though its better songs are as good as any ever did. ~ William Ruhlmann