How We Operate

Gomez have always been charmingly out of step with contemporary Britpop, their shaggy rock recalling Van Morrison and Traffic more than Blur or Coldplay. But on their fifth studio album, How We Operate, the quintet sheds most of its psychedelic trimmings and bluesy wailing for a disc of tight, mature Chris Martin-style pop-rock. They land a bull’s-eye, as career high points like the peppy power-pop ”Girlshapedlovedrug” and peacenik sing-along ”See the World” point to a renovated Gomez and a winning new way to Operate.