By: Joseph VanBuren
Rating: 7.5/11

The Mugs stand at that crossroads where indie rock and alt-pop meet, and they travel down both roads without losing their senses of creativity and musicianship. Their songwriting is solid and very accessible, yet they retain an intriguing quality that is hard to define but reminiscent of Radiohead or Queens of the Stone Age. They dip into experimental areas, as in the atmospheric electro-blues of “Asleep All Day,” but the band’s chemistry and great use of melody (in both the music and the vocals) are the driving forces behind their songs. “Woman Opens Man” is a stand-out track, thoughtful and powerfully uplifting, while songs like “Ravel Day“ and “Broken Signals” are just honest, traditional folk rock performed with perfection. Yes, The Mugs are hard to define, but they are not hard to enjoy.