New England seems a logical next step from the preceding There's the Rub, as the band continues to whittle down song length and make more concise tunes. There's a lot to like here: Mother of Pearl is a great opener with it's staggered guitar riff and rhythmic groove, followed by You Rescue Me, whose slow burn pace, the band had made one of their signatures by this point. The second half doesn't offer any real surprises, although Lonely Island succeeds in setting a mellow mood. The album finishes with Candle Light, an acoustic/electric guitar piece which shares a co-writing credit with departed guitarist Ted Turner.