Hot Hot Heat

When a band names an album after itself, it usually implies a definitive statement; in 's case, it's also a final one. They use this opportunity to showcase what they excelled at for over 15 years: piling as many melodies and hooks into their songs as possible. Their overwhelming tunefulness earned them immediate attention for their debut, , and "Sad Sad Situation," "Modern Mind," and "Mayor of the City" could have easily appeared on that album. Elsewhere, mixes their early exuberance with the more polished, synth-heavy sound of their later albums -- as well as ' other projects and -- on songs such as the glossy "Magnitude." As on , balance these sounds so well partly because they worked in their own studio with longtime producer (who also works with in ). This sense of family, coupled with the band's self-aware lyrics, makes some of the band's most poignant music. They hold on to youthful dreams and ideals on "Kid Who Stays in the Picture," reflect on the good and the bad on "Alaskan Midnight Sun," and meditate on separation on "Pulling Levers." The album closes with "The Memory's Here," a droning, layered track that's one of the more unusual songs to appear on any of the band's albums, but is just as bittersweet as the rest of the rest of the songs here. With just the right mix of nostalgia and looking forward to what's next, puts a neat bow on the band's career. ~ Heather Phares