Ex-Boyfriends

San Francisco rock trio Ex-Boyfriends dispels the notion of a sophomore slump with a second album that's tighter and, musically, even meatier than its critically acclaimed predecessor.

One reason for this is time, say members Colin, Chris and Peter. While 2006's "Dear John" was recorded in sporadic spurts over the course of just one week, "In With," whose title and artwork were inspired by them urder-mystery-boardgameturned- ‘80s-cult-comedy "Clue," (i.e Colonel Mustard In the Study With the Candlestick) a favorite of Ex-Boyfriends, took more than one month to complete. "We took our time with this one, and I think that changed the sound a lot," explains singer-guitarist Colin. "I don't know, it sounds more like an album."

"More cohesive," adds bassist-singer Peter. "The fi rst album was very rushed and so it had a really raw sound to it, which worked. But we didn't want this record to sound like the last one."

"Plus, with the first record, I felt like we were three people playing at the same time rather than a band," says drummer Chris . "Now, I defi nitely feel like we're a band. We're much more together and insync with each other. And I think you can hear that as well.

"According to Ex-Boyfriends, that "one for all and all for one" approach to music-making gave the threesome the courage to tinker with its already fan-approved formula in an attempt to cover some exciting new ground both musically and lyrically.

"Dear John" earned Ex-Boyfriends a reputation for well-crafted, upper-tempo tunes about elusive love and expired romance. This time, the trio serves up plenty more heartbreak, but with a side-order of hope, urging those tackled emotionally by love, who might otherwise be inclined to take a seat on the romance bench, to walk off their broken hearts and jump right back in the game. For instance, on the opening track, "Pick Up Line," a would-be suitor, excited about the prospect of having found his ideal mate, boldly proclaims his romantic intent to a prospective lover seemingly without fear of rejection.

"You know how good it feels when you're totally sprung on someone," Colin explains. "It's not love, but there's the possibility of love. And it's all you can think about. It's so much fun." "And, I mean, you can only sing ‘you broke my heart' so many times," he jokes. That's not to say that "In With" is without its share of warranted grumbling, romantic or otherwise. On "Saving Face," Ex-Boyfriends, whose members are seasoned veterans of scenes on both coasts, takes a swipe at an industry that, these days, seems more concerned with image and fi lling a market niche than talent or creativity.

"It's frustrating," Colin adds. "But it is what it is. I mean, if you let it, the whole business of being in a band can sort of grind you down.

" Musically, Ex-Boyfriends builds on the dancey foundation of "Dear John" with a richer sound, varying tempos and textures that demonstrate its growth as a band, and the growth of its individual members as both musicians and human beings. The wistful Peter-penned closing track, "Goodnight," epitomizes that maturity. Clocking in at 4:29 of pop bliss, the dreamy love song begs for mainstream radio airplay and an accompanying Sofi a Coppola-directed video with lanky, half-naked characters bathed in an ethereal wash of soft pastels and diffused light.

"The music keeps getting stronger," Colin says. "I feel like we're progressing. And this album defi nitely feels like the next logical step for us."