“Welcome to the North,” may make you want to go south for the winter.

The Music’s first release since its popular self-titled debut loses sight of itself as it grabs too far, too fast, trying to top its predecessor.

Pop-ish melodies are littered throughout the album to make it accessible to those unfamiliar with The Music’s rock/pop/dance/indie hybrid sound. Such user-friendliness can help forgive the times when the band overextends itself trying to cover new territories of sound.

Lead singer Robert Harvey’s voice clashes with the music at times, turning it into a mess of sound rather than accompanying the music and adding exclamations – as on the first album. Some songs echo too much and layer Harvey’s sour voice in an effect that will give the listener a headache.

The album does have some beautiful melodies and mellow songs like “Fight the Feeling,” inducing a divine, calming effect. Intense guitar riffs pull like a black hole and create a haze of sound.

“Welcome to the North” is an album of hit-and-miss songs worthwhile to few non-fans.