It is fair to say that the problem with Everything But The Girl is that it doesn't know exactly where to place itself. Trying to fit someplace between straight electro and pop, the band is strangely dysfunctional. On its most recent release, Temperamental, few things shine brighter than this confusion.

Ben Watts' authorship is certainly accomplished but lacks any serious progression from the band's 1996 release. Watts is capable of programming virtually any musical style, from jungle to hip-hop to house, but the album does not seriously delve into any of these forms. Lyrically speaking, the album is for the most part a step back from Walking Wounded, and Tracy Thorns' vocal performance feels too restrained.

All of this is not to suggest that Temperamental is not a good album. It is certainly a step ahead of what is traditionally found on the pop charts. But this is not quite enough to qualify the album as anything more than standard. The standout song on the album is "Hatfield 1980," in which a ring of honesty can be found in the lyrics and singing which are well complimented by the melancholic hip-hop programming.

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