For the uninitiated, Built To Spill have a sound best described as exactly how you'd expect Death Cab For Cutie to sound if they played nothing but Modest Mouse covers. If you don't know what Death Cab For Cutie or Modest Mouse sound like... well... I'm sorry to hear about your empty, empty, life.

Over the years there seems to have been a continual swing between more Modest Mouse to more DCFC... not to suggest that either is necessarily a bad thing, rather simply that the slow ambling jams of some past records have been replaced, to some extent, by a crisper, more formulated, approach. Making this album, perhaps, they're most focused record to date.

From start to finish, the vocals wail, the guitars jingle and then crunch and the lyrics continue to amaze. Master of the lyrical phrase, Doug Martsch, is still on top form on this album. From the man who brought you "When I was a kid I saw a light/Floating high above the trees one night/Thought it was an alien/Turned out to be just god" we get "Finally decided/And by decide I mean accept/I don't need all those/Other chances I won't get".

The intricate guitars are still there too. The jams may have been somewhat down-graded in length, but they make their presence known without ever seeming over-indulgent. The short-lived, but exceptional, 'Planting Seeds' is probably the stand-out track of the album - brilliantly pulling together the lyrical prowess, with the indie rock rhythm and Doug Martsch's iconic lead guitar work.

'Oh Yeah' is another standout on the album. Dead centre of the album, Martsch, in a state of reserved melancholy, simply states "And if God/Does exist/I am sure He/Will forgive/Me for doubting Him/For He'd see/How unlikely He/Made Himself seem." Then the guitars soar out from the background for a smile enducingly brilliant 3 minutes. You know how happy the kids look when cruising round the shopping centre in heelys? Yeah, the breakdown jam gave me that same smug smile of satisfaction.

This is an album that probably won't see Built To Spill finding success outside their existing fan base. Nevertheless, this album remains true to the indie jam feel of classic Built To Spill, but seems to naturally form itself into their most accessible record yet.

8/10