The first few measures of First Words sound very promising, but once the guitar and drums kick in, the magic is suddenly lost. To make matters worse, as the album progresses, my attention constantly wanders elsewhere. Whatever happened to all those killer hooks Trans Am were capable of? Besides the absolutely devastating Conspiracy Of The Gods (easily the best track on the album with it's heavy metal overtones), none of these songs pack much punch. Obscene Strategies sounds like an uninspired Rita Mitsouko track (I love this french duo, but I'm not expecting it on a Trans Am record). Shining Path might be another pounding track, but it still feels overly complex. I miss the minimalist approach of ye olde Trans Am, the addictive tunes, the short bursts of electro oddities, their unique retro vibe. And I simply don't hear it here. Don't get me wrong, I don't find this album bad in any way, but it's sub par when compared to other efforts.