Young the Giant dropped their fourth studio album “Mirror Master” and it landed with a thud. Fans of the DC comic Flash will appreciate the allusion to the infamous villain, but will they appreciate what comes after the catchy title? While previous albums, such as “Home of The Strange,” are social critiques, this 12 song record turns inward, showing the more vulnerable and introspective side of the band.

Songs, such as “Darkest Shade of Blue” and “Simplify,” contemplate commitment and grapple with what it means to love unconditionally. In theory, the premise sets the stage for a hit, but in reality, these two songs capture one of the biggest pitfalls in the album—simplicity. The band isn’t presenting anything new or exciting. Honorably, they try to convey the reality of being in a relationship; however, in their effort to avoid the generic love song, they ended up writing a generic love song. With lines as revolutionary as “I’m here with you when your hands are shaking” or, more concisely, “I don’t want to live without you,” the lyrics come off as underwhelming and watered down. Their melodies are repetitive, and unlike their past albums, poorly pieced together. However, credit must be given where credit is due.

Even though “Mirror Master” won’t go down in the history books, It did have some better qualities, “Tightrope,” being one of them. In this catchy single, Young the Giant finally finds their sound. They stop shoving their guitarist into the background and suddenly, magic. The high energy funk riffs pull the album out of the dredges. The lyrics finally take on a meaning that doesn’t feel washed out. The metaphor of the “Tightrope” isn’t exhausted, but well thought out. Similarly, “You+I” and their closing track “Mirror Master” are phenomenal examples of the strengths of the band. Here, all the pieces come together. Sameer’s voice doesn’t sound processed, Francisco finally gets to play the drums and all three guitarists get their moments in the spotlight. Lyrically, they move from generic to innovative and leave you wanting more. Unfortunately, these are the last two songs on the album, so it will be another two years before we see more of where that came from.

Overall, the album felt half-hearted. In some moments, the band seemed purposeful. In others, it seemed like they were just trying to fill space. Maybe two more years of contemplation will yield something among the likes of “Home of the Strange,” but until then, we’ll have to live with the “Tightropes” and “Mirror Masters.”