Over the course of a decade, has gone from making homemade albums with his vocals cut in his car to becoming a major force in indie rock with his group , and that didn't happen without growth, change, and a willingness to evolve. So it comes as only so much of a surprise that 2020's , his first album of new songs since 2016's breakthrough , is a dramatic stylistic change-up from his last few releases, though some fans might still raise their eyebrows at how different this sounds. Much of was recorded by and drummer , who have an electronic side project called , and here the effectively sloppy indie rock of gives way to a cleaner and more exacting soundscape dominated by keyboards and rhythm machines, with guitars still in the mix but not dominating as they once did. Unlike (the 2011 album he re-recorded in 2018), lacks a narrative concept that links the songs; the tracks exist in a similar emotional space, but there's no through line to this album. If there is a theme to this set of songs, it's that success hasn't been everything was hoping for. While angst has played a big role in his songs from the start, the adolescent anxieties and confusion of have been replaced by the uncomfortable emotions of adulthood and a severe wariness of his place in the larger world and the circle where he has placed himself. He's riddled with self-doubt on the opener "Weightlifters," he's disgusted with the ugly and venal world of "Hollywood," he's at odds with his creative process in "Deadline," his fear and depression are vivid in "Life Worth Missing," and the title of "Famous" speaks for itself. isn't the first artist to discover getting what you want isn't the same thing as getting what you were hoping for, and the cooler, more precise, and less cozy surfaces of suit these songs well, the inorganic tone meshing with the alienation that permeates the album. Despite all that, the simple yet effective melodies that buoyed 's earlier work are still recognizable, and the sincere, foggy tone of 's voice adds a humanity that makes his uncertainty cut even deeper. does not sound like the work of a happy man, but he remains a remarkably talented one, and this music is tremendously powerful, a strong album about his own weaknesses. One hopes is more content when next goes into the studio, but that he's also just as good and as honest as he is on . ~ Mark Deming