The album can consistently be grouped as a kind of adult album-oriented alternative, though it can also be considered 'power pop' depending on the intensity of a given song. That's not to say that it's not a rock album, as it has a definite live band sound, as opposed to the keyboard pop sound of its earlier hits, as the gradual, evocative wake-up intro of "Imperfectly" shows. And the pulsating guitar riff of "Phenomenal World"**** seriously rocks. But clever, left-field chromatic chord changes make even this rocker into smart, slick pop, and in most songs the polished back-up vocals and piano flourishes still keep the sound safe for polite company. The stately intro of opener "Rainy Season" is especially dignified, though the song does sort of rock out later. "Sun"**** almost has the focused exuberance of a late-80's sitcom theme song, which makes it memorable and maybe charming depending on your tolerance for bubble gum (the placid closer "Sunset" is its bookend). "Debutante" isn't exciting, but comes close to slow songs by the Faces, and "Beautiful Girl" has the skilled textures of Squeeze (maybe a residual influence of Paul Carrack). So in general if this is the kind of polished pop you dig, this album has it in spades.
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