The Number 12 Looks Like You - Worse Than Alone (2009)

Number 12's latest full length album is my first experience with them, and I have to say that I'm not very impressed. Their sound is a hodgepodge of styles, mostly focused on hardcore, but they also frequently add other styles, including pop punk, progrock/metal, jazz, and lounge. I'm usually not impressed by bands that try the "kitchen sink" approach, and this album is no different. There doesn't seem to be any method to their madness -- their use of style changes seems random and po-mo ("weird for the sake of weird") to me. Aside from stylistic concerns, this isn't really bad -- the playing is fine (and even a little challenging at times) and the production is appropriate. There are even a few cool parts here and there, but this album is so hit-or-miss that I doubt I'll listen to it again.