There’s something odd about Echo & the Bunnymen’s self-titled album: it isn’t as dark as their previous albums. After the brilliant Ocean Rain, about three years after that album’s release, the band has come with a newer sound. Their single “Bring on the Dancing Horses” two years before the self-titled album’s release hinted the band had a different sound, although the self-titled album didn’t even sound like that song at all.Here, the album has more catchy hooks, and the songs seemed to be up-tempo and rockier. There are also a lot of more keyboards throughout the album than any of their other albums up to that period. Still, the band is heavily influenced by The Doors, as “Bedbugs and Ballyhoo” points toward The Door’s earlier sound. (The bonus track “Soul Kitchen” is a remake of The Doors.) Will Sergeant even gets a lengthy guitar solo in the track “All in Your Mind,” which half of the song showcases the band’s willing to showcase they can totally rock. “Satellite” and “New Direction” are near rock jams that you couldn’t help yourself but bang your hand throughout the tracks. The bonus track “Over Your Shoulder” is a heavy beat track with Ian’s voice being a little distorted while Will Sergeant’s guitar howls with a few simple chords that are catchy.“The Game,” “Over You,” “Lips Like Sugar,” and “All My Life” are softer tracks on the album but are a joy to listen to. “The Game” and “Lips Like Sugar” were two singles during the album’s release. Songs like “Lost and Found,” “Bomber’s Bay,” and “Blue Blue Ocean” are mid-tempo beats but catchy beats that are grooving on the edge to jam out full rock but the band hangs on the edge to let the songs flow naturally.The self-titled album may not live up like Ocean Rain, but it still never the less a joy to listen to, as the band explores a newer sound that isn’t as dark, meaning their songs are catchier with hooks and arranging tempos to bow your head to. Before Ian’s departure and Pete’s horrific death, this album lives up to Echo & the Bunnymen’s name, in my opinion, and it’s really the last “Echo” like album before the 2014 album Meteorites that shows the band is willing to achieve a newer but oddly familiar sound they’d had. Perhaps these are “pop, radio like” songs, but this album is what really turned me onto a band that I didn’t know all too well. Cheers.