Grandaddy's latest EP, Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla, continues their run of catchy, synthesized ballads filled with growing discontent toward industrialization.

Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla is a preview to their highly anticipated new album, yet none of the songs on this EP will appear on the new record when it is released in a couple months.

If this tease is Grandaddy's collection of B-sides from their upcoming full-length album, then the new record may again reach the status of the highly acclaimed Sumday.

Lead singer Jason Lytle's voice is an acquired taste that gives the slow songs a hypnotic appeal. Grandaddy beautifully combines slowly strummed country guitar with synthesizers and outbursts of computer-generated noises. Lytle's voice mollifies the songs' tensions beautifully between these rarely juxtaposed musical aspects.

While these tracks exhibit similar characteristics to Lytle's wailing voice sliced with surges of synth, it falls short of the captivating quality of their previous recordings.

Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla might have some strikingly catchy songs, but after several listens, the songs do not have the same impact as the tracks on Sumday or Sophtware Slump.

One of the most uncharacteristic tracks is "Florida," a fast-paced song that ends with a punkish tirade that sounds like it should of come of out of '70s Queens, New York. It's a different sound for Grandaddy, but definitely doesn't lack any punch.

Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla curbs cravings for a fresh batch of songs with Lytle's addictive voice and Grandaddy's alluring sound.

The EP is possibly Grandaddy holding back a couple more months to increase anticipation for their new album that may return them to their musical prime.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars