Don't get me wrong - this album is decent musically. The songs are well-written and well-executed, as we have come to expect from Chris Conley and the rest of the band. However, since the departure of longtime drummer Bryan Newman and second guitarist Ted Alexander, the songs have lost a little bit of the edge that was so appealing. Chris' departure from whinier, pop/punk to a more straight/ahead, mellow tone is alright, but in reality, the former tone, heard on STD's previous recordings, is what gives the songs flavor. That aspect is lacking on this record, and I cannot help but feel that the shift to California's Vagrant is pushing the band in the wrong direction musically. At this rate, STD is primed to become a second-rate copy of Built To Spill...sorry guys, but Built to Spill does it and does it better...I think you have to go (in this case, stick) with what you know.