Grade: C +
It’s been nearly five years since Phantogram released its debut album “Eyelid Movies.” The trip-hop duo of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel showed that it had potential to grow with each musical effort. With its new album, “Voices,” Phantogram tries to release itself from the shackles that held it back on its first album. The first half of the album stays true to the band’s sound with groove tracks such as “Never Going Home” and “The Day You Died.” The second half of the album drifts into the category of elevator music with songs like “Bill Murray” and “I Don’t Blame You.” Phantogram’s sophomore effort begins strongly but ends softly. While it is not a bad album, “Voices” may have needed another year or so to be the record Phantogram fans expected.