I'm not sure if it's the lack of a clear-cut conceptual idea or something else, but the 11 songs on the release just seem to plow along through waters that the group has already rowed many times before.

The 11 tracks on Hopes And Fears have an almost complete lack of soul and even distinction between one another.

While there are some excellent moments on La Incredible Aventura, it feels more like a transitional album than a fullfilled vision.

While there's nothing wrong with any of the disc, it just feels like tracks such as "Dahlem," "Basic," and "Cosimo" have already been done by the group before.

This is one of the more straightforward and brutal assessments of people and relationships that I've heard in awhile, all set to vaguely dreary music that is pretty impeccable in construction.

[A] blistering album.

Sounds sort of like a cross between a more mainstream New Order and Daft Punk.

Their production is still top-notch, and as mentioned above the album still has some great sounds and moments, but it's not quite up to the level that they've done in the past.

The biggest problem with the release is that it's simply a little too programmed for it's own good.

It's All Around You has both serious ambience and serious grooves, it rocks occasionally, and it doesn't dip into jazz nearly as much as some of their past releases.

Probably the biggest complaint could be that the group has tightened up their sound even more on this release, leaving behind even more of the roughshod qualities that made their earlier discs blister with such energy.

If you're a fan of their older work, you'll probably find yourself a bit turned-off here, but if you're a fan of well-played rock music with an ocassional burst to make it stick out from the masses doing the same, Final Straw might be something to check out.

It has enough winners to make it something to hunt down if you like the group.

I find Venice quite beautiful and downright stunning in places, yet simply good in others.

Sufjan Stevens is a musician who seems to just be reaching his creative peak and shows no signs of slowing down.

There are some amazing songs on Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, but overall it still feels like a transition[al] release of a group really trying to nail things.

Insanely catchy and perfect for singing along with.

In the end, this is a perfectly passable release if you need something to play in the background at your next cocktail party or if you're a dentist looking for something to play in the background.

While it doesn't work stunningly as a whole, there are places where the group comes together to create dark and blistering rock tracks that stand with the best work they've ever done.

An ambitious, if flawed new album that once again tries to include many different things on one release, but unfortunately stumbles in several places.

Even if you haven't liked the group in the past, you might very well find yourself won over by Fabulous Muscles.

The slight cracks that shone on Tallahassee are more visible, and unless you're a newbie to Mountain Goats lore, there probably won't be a whole lot new for you here.

All in all, the album is a good one, but still feels a small step away from being great.

It feels more like a transitional album than the next level for the group.

Overall, a small step up for the group, but not quite the masterpiece that they might very well be capable of.

Leave Your Name is 11 tracks and only 28 minutes long, about half of which feels like noodling.

Although there are some moments of greatness on the disc, it feels more like a cathartic vent-session than a well thought-out release.

There are a few peaks, not much in the way of valleys, and although it's not the best work by Kozelek, it's still pretty damn good.