by Gina Boldman
The aptly titled Pretty Together may be the first Sloan album that sounds like it was made by the band as a whole, and not the four individual singer/songwriters. At first listen, Pretty Together may seem a lot like the band's previous efforts -- there's the obligatory Kiss anthem (&Pick It Up and Dial It&), the radio hit (&If It Feels Good Do It&), and the wistful ballad (&Dreaming of You&). But there are also subtle changes -- the cheekiness of previous songs like &Autobiography& and &Chester the Molester& has been replaced by the melancholy of &The Life of a Working Girl& and the cold, apathetic &Other Man.& Sullen, self-pitying songs like &I'm Not Through With You Yet& have turned into the self-satisfied &It's in Your Eyes.& Sloan has always written contemplative songs, but they're more serious and mature than ever before; &Are You Giving Me Back My Love?& is delicate and sorrowful, and &I Love a Long Goodbye& is achingly honest and beautiful. All in all, Pretty Together shows the bandmembers' styles becoming more blurred, and with pleasing results.