I can't help looking back at TOTBL whenever these guys put out new material. With each release I hope with all my heart to get knocked out my I can't help looking back at TOTBL whenever these guys put out new material. With each release I hope with all my heart to get knocked out my chair the same way their debut album did. Those songs caught you off guard with mind-blowing changes in rhythm and melody. Hardly no song in there was straight-forward. That said, does El Pintor accomplish all of this glory? Sadly no, but not without respectable effort. Most importantly, I feel this record suffers greatly from the absence of Carlos D bass lines. Paul Banks does the job alright, but I feel like the bass is just hanging in the back, going along timidly with the rest. It's definitely there, but it's straight-forward, it's lukewarm even. The guitar melodies are beautiful, but it feels dry a lot of times and within each individual song, it also lacks a bit of creativity and variety. What I mean is that, while listening to this album, I am constantly imagining how they could have gone a different path in many sections; shake those guitar riffs/melodies up a little bit instead of just plainly repeating it over and over. Did I dislike this album then? Absolutely no, it's a very good listen overall and makes me glad to see them back together recording good stuff. Paul falsettos are a very welcome addition, I think. It may be a little bit too much sometimes, but still. I'd like to point out a few songs I am truly digging: All the Rage Back Home, My Desire, Everything is Wrong and Ancient Ways. Ancient Ways is my number one: it's cacophonous yet positively so: it's chaotic and the drums are punchy and fast. … Expand