Promising crowd pleasers go too far

Ghostland Observatory’s best studio work essentially serves as fodder for the band’s stage shows. “Codename: Rondo,” its fourth album, magnifies this trend by showing how strong the band’s crowd-pleasing numbers are and how misguided the more eclectic work can be.

Tracks such as “Give Me the Beat” and “Miracles” would sound at home on past efforts, sporting infectious synth-driven rhythms and Aaron Behrens’ sing-a-long lyrics that will deservedly make them live-show staples.

When the band takes only baby steps outside its comfort zone, it grows and evolves its sound the way it should. “Mama” presents foreboding instrumentation then slathers on eerily majestic vocals that call to mind “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The combination works beautifully and makes it the standout track on the album.

However, the band got greedy, and nearly half the record is filled with unsuccessful, overly ambitious songs that would seem, at the very least, problematic for live shows, most notably the unbearably pretentious title track.

These ultimately make this an album with “Mama,” other solid danceable highlights, awful experimental low points and no middle ground.