Another day, another Ty Segall record. Segall’s prolificacy is challenged only by Lil B or Robert Pollard. Since 2014, we’ve received (in no particular order) a T. Rex homage record, more than a few 7-inches, a singles compilation, a live album, an EP, and his last full-length, Manipulator. Every time I write about Segall, I can’t ignore his churn ’em out nature because it makes it all the more surprising when each one doesn’t fall on its face. This is especially salient with Emotional Mugger (Drag City Records), perhaps his most consistent and all-around best record since Slaughterhouse (2012).

In case you didn’t know, emotional mugging is a social crime perpetuated in our digital age. We steal each other’s experience and opinions, seldom acting on our own, personal instincts. If we read into Segall’s words, the essential lifeblood of Emotional Mugger is acting with the id, and the key to being empowered is with candy of every sort. When it comes to the songs’ compositions, they arrive headier and groove harder than any other Segall tracks heard before, notably the album’s bookends, “The Magazine” and “Squealer.” Of course, it’s not really a Segall record without guitar licks, and they’re still present, frequently inhabiting his usual space of throwback blues and standardized garage rock. More often than not, though, he uses his guitar in surprising ways, like the squawks and noise on the otherwise low end–leaning “Emotional Mugger/Leopard Priestess.” As such, surprisingly the only true guitar-rock song is the addictive “Mandy Cream,” a track pointed at disillusionment and narcissism that turns a line like “I think you’re talking about yourself” into a real fist-pumper. (A listener could pin it as a less-cerebral Black Keys.)

The major appeal of Emotional Mugger is its nixing of any pronounced ambition. After releasing Manipulator, a behemoth full of high production quality and classic classic-rock influences, it was clear what Segall felt like he needed to do: scarf some of aforementioned candy and go back to screwing around.