I really loved their first three records, and I thought the last one had a few killer songs on it (although it was a marked dip in quality).

I'm finding the new one very difficult to listen to and completely uninvolving.

It is a really ugly sounding record - all mushed together with no space for any of the elements of the songs to breathe, and everything recorded too loud. There's no space in any of the songs, no light and shade, no drama. As a result you have to really concentrate to hear the lyrics, which after all is the main point of the band, and the whole thing seems to just pass without you really noticing any of the songs.

Am I wrong? Should I keep trying or give it up as a bad lot?