More than a decade since their last release, Modern Life Is War has returned with a new album. And… it’s interesting. Or different. Or whatever it is you’re supposed to say when it doesn’t sound anything like what you were expecting. And to be completely honest, just not all that great.

The opener, “Invocation”, is a jumble of odd sounds that sets the tone for much of what follows. “First Song On The Moon” rushes in with frantic guitars but not much else, and the same goes for “There Is A Telephone That Never Stops Ringing”. By the time the band stumbles into the trip-hoppy “Empty Shoes”, the novelty had worn off for me.

I hate to say it, but I’m just not feeling Life On The Moon. I’m all for a band evolving, but I was doing just fine without listening to a random sax-driven instrumental  from the same band that once had us screaming about being “dead Ramones.” This one is all experiment and no soul.

Life On The Moon tracklist:

1. Invocation
2. First Song on the Moon
3. There is a Telephone That Never Stops Ringing
4. Empty Shoes
5. Jackie Oh No
6. Johnny Gone
7. Homecoming Queen
8. You Look Like the Morning Sun
9. In the Shadow of Ingredion 
10. Bloodsport
11. Kid Hard Dub
12. Over the Road
13. Talismanic