Though there have been eight years and two albums since the Eels' "Souljacker," "Hombre Lobo" feels like its sequel. The dirty blues and fuzzed out vocals are back and frontman E's beard is longer and bushier than ever.

The band's eighth album is driven by more than just a catchy title ("hombre lobo" translates to "werewolf"). The record is a stripped down look at love, alternating between the brash confidence of the wolf and the insecurity of the man. On "Tremendous Dynamite," E is the former, "I am el hombre lobo/On the prowl for a restless night/I got her right here in my sights." But the predator becomes the prey on the following track. With a broken heart, E sings "The longing is a pain/A heavy pressure on my chest/It rarely leaves and my day becomes a quest/To try not to think about her."

The track by track juxtaposition is a cool idea, but it doesn't always make for equally interesting songs. The album doesn't really gain momentum until the second half. "Fresh Blood" is both brazen in its lyrics and quite rewarding in its horror movie soundtrack. "What's a Fella Gotta Do" may be about self-doubt, but injects some much needed booty shaking. "My Timing is Off" and "Beginner's Luck" are standouts as well and "Ordinary Man" is the best slow song of the bunch.

The album may not definitively decide which is better -- man or beast -- but when it comes to track listing, side two is clearly the better half.