Produced by Butch Walker, the album leans heavily on Allison Robertson's increasingly slick guitar; the solo in "Don't Break Me Down" may mark the first time the word "tasty" can be applied to her playing. Meanwhile, lead vocalist Brett Anderson is crooning more and growling less -- a decision that subtly undermines the sass in the lyrics to "Is That All You've Got for Me."
Not that the disc as a whole is a wipeout. "It's So Hard" proves the quartet can still engage in flirty double entendres when the mood strikes, and tunes such as "It Takes One to Know One" are hook-filled and infectious. Unfortunately, they're also a bit more subdued than the Donnas' previous efforts, and that raises questions for the future. Be careful, ladies: A little maturity goes a long way.
