The album returns to the style and sound Cale became famous for – a mix of laid-back shuffles, jazzy chords, and bluesy rock and roll with layered vocals – but it also embraces technology, resulting in a cleaner sound than on Cale’s earlier albums. Lyrically, Cale makes a rare foray into political songwriting with “The Problem,” an indictment of then-President George W. Bush with lines like, “The man in charge, he don't know what he's doing, he don't know the world has changed.” “Stone River” is an understated protest song about the water crisis in the West.