Inveterate travelers often tell of arrivals in foreign lands they haven’t before visited, yet somehow seem terribly familiar. The ornate steeple of the Orthodox Church and the cobblestone alley darkened by the shadows cast by a fourteenth century castle are unfamiliar. Yet, somehow, it charms you into believing you’ve been there before.

Pittsburgh rockers The You contain the same allure as the faraway village described above. For the Masses, their newest album, is a sublime mix of acoustically based pieces that reveal the complexity of songwriter/vocalist Josh Verbanets’ soul, and understated proto-punk that is dark, humorous, and thought-provoking. Throughout For the Masses, Verbanets' annunciation and vocal sparks will make you think of Ray Davies of The Kinks, but The You has blended some quixotic elements here, from the brooding bass lines reminiscent of The Cure and The Church, to elements of grunge/alt.rock sans the heavy amperage.

In all, it's an extremely intoxicating concoction. Verbanets splays his tortured spirit aptly, masking his sense of abandonment with some very wry, cynical lyrics, but also allows us a view of the beauty he finds in small things. In a way, Verbanets' moving words beckon a comparison to the poetic film work of Ricky Fitts, the young drug dealer/filmmaker in the movie American Beauty. Verbanets' vocals and guitar are backed up by Mike Paschka on guitar and vocals, Chad Mikolajcik on bass, and Dave Schewe on drums. If you close your eyes and listen closely to Mikolajcik’s and Schewe’s rhythm section, you’ll pick up on their Nirvana-like lines.

Most enjoyable is the sassy sway of Verbanets’ arrangements, going from internalized solo pieces which feature his rhythm guitar work blossoming into enigmatic and subtle soundscapes which transport the listener like a sonic magic carpet. Each song on For the Masses is filled with surprising bursts of color, much like the places you sometimes find along the way to an ultimate destination. The trip is aided by producer Brian Deck, who has ably guided albums by Iron and Wine and Modest Mouse in the past. Deck captures the bombastic energy and grit of Verbanets’ songs on digital chip and smoothes out some of the rougher elements without losing the original intensity of these songs.

Despite the creativity found on For the Masses, the territory it covers is rather ubiquitous. Even with the raw emotional undercurrent, Verbanets and the band tend to color between the lines. That Verbanets took this album within inches of edginess and opted for safety may be an indication that the band needs more time to develop and let go of preconceived notions about the music they’re playing.

Even with its flaws, For the Masses is an earnest effort towards a progressive sound and worth a listen. Like that quixotic foreign land, For the Masses will charm you with its exquisite patina while making you believe you’ve heard it so many times before.