Patrick Wolf, the brooding sire of folktronica, has returned to his typical darker and more sorrowful roots with his fourth release, The Bachelor. Wolf had originally intended it to be a double album with one disc containing his anger and belligerence and the other his happiness and passivity. However, after much internal deliberation, Wolf thought it best not to deliver so much of himself at one time to people. Instead, The Bachelor takes the best of both discs and holds songs that evaluate his grievances about life and society with the tenacity of his earlier works Lycanthropy and Wind In The Wires. Tracks such as “Oblivion” and the title track seem to douse the listener with Wolf’s penchant for gloom, while “Hard Times” and “Vulture” help you to ignore the frigid hopelessness with catchy beats that urge you back onto the dance floor. Because of this, The Bachelor fails as much as it succeeds. It seems to be deficient in the unsullied sass and egotism found on its predecessor, The Magic Position, which makes for a lackluster attempt at truly getting his point across - whatever that may be. - Nick Truden