Two years and 32 compilations, box sets, books, DVDs, and so on, since their last studio album (the lukewarm ), returned as a hungry, grumpy band once again with the excellent . The subtitle is a reference to the fact that even aren't exempt from having early versions of albums leaked to the Internet, but it could just as well be a way to separate the album from the numerous substandard releases. One listen to the opening (a rare love song from the group) and it's easy to see the band is trying harder than it had lately. A higher percentage of leader 's lyrics are audibly intelligible, and his writing has returned to the jocular and enthusiastic style fans adore. may be the second song in recent memory that has written about credit problems, but he delivers the song with that wry authority that makes him special, rhyming and over a skipping beat. Musicwise, the 2003 band is tight enough to handle the album's twist and turns, sounding on and like when they really throbbed on The antipastoral anthem ("I hate the countryside/so much") and the football hooligan commentary ("stay at home/with TV set") are rocking highlights. Producer 's contribution is as crisp and complimentary as it was on while new keyboardist fills the melodic hole left by 's exit. Making up for some momentum lost last time out, gives the faithful another reason to believe. [ issued a deluxe version of the album that provided a full picture of this very fertile moment where the band was firing on all cylinders. Alongside the album in its final released form, there is the early edition that was leaked. It's mix wasn't up to 's stringent standards, though listening here it's heard to tell exactly why. Sounds tight, tough and suitably, abrasively weird. The disc of singles and radio sessions is another delight, as is the concert recorded in NYC that finds the band in rough and ready form. Opinions may be split on the artistic value of another inclusion, the disc of demos and live recordings that was stitched up and released under the name Interim, but it's a quintessential -type move and the raw weirdness is bracing. It's also a fascinating glimpse into the guts and gore that swirls behind the scenes of a finished project. Taken all together, it's hard to find any fault with this set and any fan of will be glad to revisit this brilliant phase of the band's career in full.] ~ David Jeffries & Tim Sendra