Our Lady Peace [ tickets ]'s 1997 hit "Superman's Dead" had everything that fans were looking for: A singer with a wailing, almost tribal cry; ethereal, intelligent lyrics that could be interpreted a myriad of ways; and a rhythm section that complemented lead singer Raine Maida's vocals. To cop a word from the song, there was nothing "ordinary" about the group or that single--but the same can't be said of the band's latest effort.

On "Healthy in Paranoid Times," Our Lady Peace falls into the trap of being an ordinary band. Fans looking to hear the group's anthemic choruses should look elsewhere. This album finds a tempered Our Lady Peace--vocally and musically--forcing longtime fans to take multiple listens to get into the groove.

The set kicks off on a pleasurable, yet misleading, note with "Angels Losing Sleep," a cut that takes listeners on a thunderous journey back to the days of "Superman's Dead" and the battle cry of "Innocent." Maida teases us with his muted falsetto, suggesting there's more where that came from.

It's not a very long journey, however; much of what follows gives the impression that the band purposely set out to temper Maida's vocals and its own crunchy-guitar sound. Detailed and complex arrangements are two things that the band prided itself on, but on "Healthy in Paranoid Times," those elements seem to be swept aside for U.S. Top 40 aspirations (see 3 Doors Down).

Maida wraps up the musically scattered track "Where Are You" by stating emphatically: "Everything I've believed in, has lied to me." It's a sentiment fans can relate to, as it seems on this album that, rather than being one of the most underrated great and bombastic rock bands, Our Lady Peace aspires to make middle-of-the-road rock.