After catapulting to success three years ago with their album “Torches”, Foster the People’s newest challenge lies in figuring out how to follow up to that out-of-nowhere success. However, that very challenge is the crutch of their newest album “Supermodel.”

Fans who fell in love with their first album may be disappointed with the album’s different sound. In interviews, Mark Foster has described the band’s sophomore album as an “angry” record about capitalist greed and Hollywood, where he has changed out peppy melodies for a more dimmed down, introspective tone.

With melodies as catchy as the one in “Pumped Up Kicks,” it was easy for some listeners to overlook the darker tones in the first album’s lyrics. This time out, however, the goal critics claim is to make it harder to ignore Foster’s words.

It doesn’t work however, because by trying to one up their first album by becoming “serious”, they have become lost in trying to upstage themselves.

Every song in the album is different, but not in a way that flows or makes sense. The first track “Are You What You Want to Be?” is inspired by a West African inspired beat. Then the following songs shift from multiple genres ranging from grunge to acoustic with nothing to tie them together.

The album’s main single, “Coming of Age” is the most promising track of the album because it showcases what Foster is best at, creating catchy, addictive chorus lines.

Despite this, the rest of the album just doesn’t mesh.

The album comes off as directionless, but perhaps it is through that that Foster shows exactly the place he is in. After so much success so quickly, where is he supposed to go? The pressure to think outside the box you yourself created is a heavy load, and that’s exactly the feeling you get from this album.

Part of what made singles from “Torches” such as “Helena Beat,” “Houdini” and “Pumped Up Kicks” successful were the catchy, upbeat melodies. While “Torches” may have had a peppy sound that may “mask” the lyrics to some people, it actually blended well with the album’s themes of overcoming self doubt and growing pains.

Given Foster’s background as a commercial jingle writer, he should embrace that skill that made his first album a success. There is no need to have to be somber to get a message across.

Alex Hernandez can be reached at [email protected]