Neighborhoods

The band's studio autonomy, tours, managers and personal projects stalled the recording process, which lasted from shortly after the band's February 2009 reunion to July 2011. The band developed Neighborhoods in separate studios and regrouped at various periods to record. The band's numerous delays in the recording process resulted in the band canceling a European tour and the label setting a deadline for the album to be due. The band explored many experimental recording techniques during the sessions but set a goal to maintain a pop sensibility. The trio wrote dark lyrics regarding such subjects as isolation, confusion and death. The band infused inspiration from each member's various musical tastes to form a unique sound that recalled their separate upbringings, leading the trio to compare the album to separate neighborhoods. Neighborhoods was released to mixed reviews from critics: some felt it was a natural evolution from the band's previous releases, while others felt it stale and disjointed. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and "Up All Night" and "After Midnight" were released as singles, with both attracting modest success on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.