Grade: C+
Neither as weirdly melodic as their self-titled debut album nor as divisively experimental as “Some Loud Thunder,” Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s third album “Hysterical” is a more mature, toned-down effort than fans have come to expect from the band. Lead singer Alec Ounsworth’s signature shrill has become less prevalent, and instead his voice has a more tender quality. On “Hysterical,” the band opts for slower tempo and ambient songs, sometimes sacrificing the distinctiveness that marked its previous work. Songs tend to blend together as the album progresses, and it feels more like background music than anything else. CYHSY’s latest work lacks any true distinctive qualities that would separate it from the rest of their catalogue, but it’s a pleasant listen nonetheless.
 
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