The Neighborhood :" Ultrasound".

I loved "Wiped Out" but this is the first album to I have listened to by this California band. I am not sure when they decided to stop making emo pop and took this turn to the zipcode of the Stone Roses, but I approve, it is not what I expected at all.'"OMG" is only marginally more poppy than the opening track, though production lays into the more 90s haze. 'Lovebomb" is more atmospheric but not as tightly written as the first two songs. The reverbed out guitar to "Private" works and provides a little more focus than they had on the previous song. 

"Lil Ol Me" is a more sonically layered song, which works better than the fragile moods of some songs like "Planet," which follows it, which does have some pop smarts and more of an '80s feel to it. "Holy Ghost" sounds more like the kind of grooving emotional pop they perfected on "Wiped Out." It makes the msot out of the bass line and almost has a 70s disco feel. There is a lazier strum to "Rabbit." It languishes in a dreamy Britpop feel. Vocally, it coos with self-pondering moodiness. This is pop for stoners. 

"Tides" required a couple of listens to click. The guitar line has a post-punk tension that is contrasted by the dreamy tone of the vocals. The dreamy indie rock haze I cast again over " Daisy Chain".  There is a catchier hook to "Zombie" as it shuffles with a brisk beat. "Mama Drama" is a lazy river-style pop ballad that floats you long in its bong water bliss. "Crushed" finds his vocal approach following a similar formula to what we have already heard from them on this album. Though they do bring in the hook, just not in the most predictable manner, and have a canopy of guitar over it. There is more of a carefree jangle to "Mute" is reminds me a little of Oasis. There is certainly a Brit Pop vibe about this album. There are not really any ark moments on this album, but the last song comes the closest. Things brighten up in the chorus. I will give this album a 9, as it is spacey and a progression for them, but it is not as finely tuned in the songwriting department, though it's an interesting listen when it comes to indie pop for stoners. 

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