Due Process: Broken Bells

Album:  Broken Bells
Artist:  Broken Bells

Brian Burton (nee Danger Mouse) ditched his outsized director's chair in this collaboration with the Shins' James Mercer. And not only that, Burton's shedding much of the bombast informing earlier works with Cee-Lo and MF Doom, even putting chocks on the glitchy bravado splayed on Beck's Modern Guilt. On Broken Bells, Danger Mouse's fingerprint is indeed here, just not his iron fist.

Mercer's vocals deftly shoulder the wavering, electronic undercurrent. His typically bright, guitar-driven outlook from his work with the Shins is cottoned by virtue of Burton's more nuanced hand, not due to donning any jade-colored glasses.

But nothing here challenges your inner ear. In fact, Broken Bells' only drawback is that it's perfectly palatable from the very first listen. There may be very little here that actually fossilizes for future generations. Verdict: [B-]

Skip To The Good Part: The High Road,  The Ghost Inside.