On the follow-up, it seems they've lost their way. Only a few tracks could stand up to the previous album, and a handful of others seem downright lazy when compared to their back catalog. Eef Barzelay, the band's singer and songwriter, has an uncanny knack for lyrically going from the ridiculously inane to the heartfelt and even sublime. But on this record, he seems distracted by the pressures of having to make something great. The band experiments into some areas where perhaps only the Flaming Lips dare to tread.

But all the effects and knob-turning can't hide the fact that the material isn't as strong as it could be. There are highlights, such as "Don't Be Afraid of Your Anger," "Long Lost Twin" and "Let's Explode." But the record takes a nosedive in the second half, with only the tritely titled "Joan Jet of Arc" serving as a respite from the mediocrity. If Your Favorite Music truly was a harbinger of things to come, we'll have to wait until next time around to find out.