Twin Peaks are trying to be indie rock’s wildcard. From Sunken’s dream-pop to Wild Onion’s bratty power-pop to the oldies influences that cover their latest, Down in Heaven (Grand Jury Music), the band has yet to exhibit any logical pop development from one release to the next. (Its band members have said as much in recent interviews, comparing themselves to artists like David Bowie and The Velvet Underground, who were also ever-changing.) A greater part of the band’s reinvention on their third full-length, however, appears to focus on not being brash, and in turn, showcasing a newfound maturity. However, it’s debatable whether or not Twin Peaks were ready to grow up.

While Wild Onion basked in youthful crudity, Down in Heaven is deliberately at-home and cozy. Much of that has to do with the mix of ’60s pop in which the album is swathed, with such clear points of reference as The Kinks (“You Don’t”), The Zombies (“Cold Lips”), and early Rolling Stones (“Butterfly”). But Twin Peaks have also had a change in perspective. Where Wild Onion had lines fitting of someone college-aged such as, “You got me feelin’ so lucky, I hope that you fuck me,” (“Sloop Jay D”), the band has graduated to taking a less crass pass at love, “I would hate to see you walk away, but I won’t cry or beg for you to stay,” (“Walk to the One You Love.”) Save for “Stain,” a song about the struggles of pursuing one’s art above all else, the album hosts a batch of tender love songs. In the two years that have passed since Wild Onion, Twin Peaks have apparently become adults, or at least cleaned up their act.

While maturation is often seen as a good look, growing up may have cost Twin Peaks their appeal. On Sunken and Wild Onion, much of what made the band engaging was derived from how they were still naively, but brashly, figuring things out. On Down in Heaven, their attempt to make easy-going pop music has resulted in a cloudy album that fails to see any one song shine. Not that they’ll never be capable, but Down in Heaven is the end product of a band making music they’re not ready to make yet.