You can't fight progress, and see no reason why they should. Twelve years after they released their scrappy, lo-fi debut album, they have the talent and the means to do more ambitious things, and if 2018's , produced by of and released by his label, found them dipping their toes into a more polished, elaborate sort of record making, 2021's is the sound of them confidently wading into the pool. was back at the controls for , and his touch doesn't sound particularly intrusive, but he's clearly given them options they didn't have in the past. The richer audio, fleshed-out arrangements, and space for thematic growth makes this album sound like a step forward from , just as was an advance from 2015's . was going through some personal tribulations while she was writing this material -- her father was fighting cancer, and a Peeping Tom became a frequent presence at her apartment complex -- and the darker tone of reflects her troubles, just as the fire that destroyed the D.I.Y. venue Ghost Ship in their hometown of Oakland, California informed the mood of are partying less on , feeling ominous and ghostly on "Snakes Crawl," deeply contemplative on "Do I Wanna Stay," and powerfully mournful on "In the Hills, In the Pines." And while their patented blend of garage punk spunk and '60s pop song structures is on proud display on "Leaves Fall Again" and "All Of My Cryin'," the tighter performances and more luxurious surroundings make them sound less like a goof, bringing out the darker undercurrents lurking in those girl group sides they love so much. But having a producer and a budget that allows her more time to focus on her singing has helped mature from a very good vocalist to a great one, and her leads and harmonies here rank with her best work to date. Guitarist also sounds improved when he steps up to the vocal mike, and makes the most of the wider variety of keyboards available to him, laying evocative patterns into the songs that nod to sounds of the past without sinking into camp. 2013's and were more outwardly fun, in part because they dealt with less immediately personal themes and had to rely on energy rather than an approach that brought out the details. But is the work of four musicians who are not content to be goofballs -- they can maintain their creative vision while making more of it, and it's a great step forward for a band that's becoming deeper and more satisfying than one might have expected. ~ Mark Deming