This past Friday, Southern California band The Neighbourhood released Wiped Out!, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2013’s debut record I Love You. Even though the respective sounds of each set are similar, the differences between the two albums are obvious. Wiped Out! is a darker, stormier version of the cool, irreverent sound established by I Love You., however, both records maintain The Neighbourhood’s signature tongue-in-cheek lyrical approach.

Lead single “R.I.P. 2 My Youth” is a shining example of the bands shift towards a darker subject matter, although the lyrics are definitely not meant to be taken too seriously. “Cry Baby”, the second official song on the track list, is a track that finds lead singer Jesse Rutherford’s haunting voice (“I hope you won’t ever lie to me / and if you do know I won’t be your cry baby”) paired with downcast lyrics placed over a hypnotizing beat that is almost cheerful. Although it is hard to know exactly how to feel when listening to this song, it is definitely one of the best on the record.

By far the biggest album highlight is the stripped back cut “Single”. Mostly consisting of an acoustic guitar and a drum machine, this track stands out because of its departure from The Neighbourhood’s typical style of production. Nevertheless, “Single” manages to maintain the band’s cool, dark tone without incorporating their usual production tactics.

Wiped Out! improves upon the The Neighbourhood’s unique style without disrupting it, which is why it will likely please longtime fans, and also attract many newcomers to their discography. There is not a bad song on the record, and it truly stands out amongst the best albums of 2015.