Once again, everyone’s favorite singer-songwriter, Conor Oberst, has come out with an album that falls somewhere in between background music and mediocrity. Once again, he’s backed by a group of musicians who don’t really set any standards for musical excellence. This doesn’t mean that Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band's second album is bad; it just means it’s nothing to write home about. Alt-country has been Mr. Oberst’s chosen milieu for the past few years, so it’s no surprise that this album follows that trend. The album’s melodies are acceptably catchy, and the lyrics are as post-emo as anyone could expect. Maybe it’s because I’m not a self-obsessed adolescent anymore, but this album just does not stand out among any of the other albums I’ve reviewed this month. Once again, Mr. Oberst, I’m not impressed. Thanks for the effort, and I’ll see you next album. - Chris Gaughan