California-born, Chicago-based Kevin Tihista's previous album, On This Dark Street, appeared after a seven year hiatus and re-established this singer-songwriter as a cynical voice whose bitterness was cleverly disguised as sunny pop.
After a much shorter break, Modern Standard suggests he's on a roll with the same producer, same label and a fresh set of songs billed as more upbeat and accessible.
However, Tihista is quick to make sure that there are no misconceptions or raised expectations: "I don't think I'd ever be accused of being too optimistic", he says, "Maybe less dire?"
One problem I have with his music is that he is so deadpan, I'm never entirely sure how nice or nasty he really is.
Is the Morrissey-esque misanthropy of Happy People Shut Your Mouths for real, or what?
Is he sincere when he asks his Texas Girl to "give it a whirl"?
Why is there a lively disco beat for the "I'm not in love in you" bitterness of You Don't Make Sense?
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If his gloom is genuine, he doesn't get buried in the bedsit angst of Elliot Smith; if his tongue is in his cheek, he can't match the camp witticisms of Stephen Merritt. Yet, at the same time, there are elements of his music that resemble both these artists.
The gallows humour of Just Can't Get High Anymore and the vitriolic Try The Veal ("I'm pissing my life away") suggest he is heading nowhere fast but then the camp Vaudeville of The City or Sequisha Chingada Picante place things in a wholly new perspective.
These are clever tunes but perhaps too clever and the state of confusion tends to stifle total enjoyment.
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