Neon Trees newest album, “Picture Show,” has been receiving mixed reviews from critics and fans, alike. If you liked Neon Trees before this album was released, you’re bound to like this too. But, for those of you who weren’t Neon Trees fans to begin with, their sophomore album does nothing new change your mind.

The synth-heavy songs on “Picture Show” rely on a few components to make up their 80s-tastic sound. Those elements are lead singer, Tyler Glenn’s, strong but whiny voice, the dance-pop electric guitar hooks, female drummer, Elaine Bradley’s, quick beats and again, that synthesizer. Their sound is comparable to The Strokes or The Killers (who they opened for during The Killers’ North American tour in 2008), but with an added dance factor.

The four musicians in the band are all members of the Mormon Church, which could explain their intense popularity in their home bases of Provo and Salt Lake City. The other two band members are Chris Allen on guitar and back-up vocals and Brandon Campbell on bass guitar and back-up vocals as well. “Picture Show” is the quartet’s second album and features their hit single “Everybody Talks” which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.

“Picture Show” starts out with a catchy song, “Moving in the Dark,” that incorporates the four things that Neon Trees have going for them: Glenn’s voice, the hooks, the beats and the synth. The next song on the album, “Teenage Sounds,” is essentially a slight elaboration on the first, with little else going on. When the three dudes start harmonizing and emphasizing the back-up vocals is when things start getting more interesting. The lyrics to the chorus, “set fire, just a little spark, that’s how it goes when you’re moving in the dark,” are well harmonized and give the song good depth.

The third and fourth songs, “Everbody Talks” and “Mad Love,” are another song pair like the first and second. They are slower and less raucous than the couple that came before them, but they’re still not incredible. 

The fault of this album is that it doesn’t take any liberties – it doesn’t change much about the dance-pop-rock genre and sticks to the things Neon Trees can do well. Here is a band that shows no evidence of a pushing themselves to new limits. The songs are all catchy, and each could make for a great radio hit, but there’s little sign of growth. There’s potential with this band, but until they start taking risks and showing more originality, Neon Trees will remain as just a good alternative-dance-pop-rock band.