Editor's note: Lifehouse performs Saturday at Kapono's. Here's a look at the band's latest release.

CD: "Lifehouse" by Lifehouse; Geffen Records.

Release: March 22.

Style: Rock.

Rewind: "You and Me," "Chapter One," "We'll Never Know."

My take: Lifehouse crashed into mainstream radio fame in 2000 with the hit "Hanging by a Moment," from its debut album "No Name Face." It was one of those songs you couldn't get away from no matter how much you tried. In 2002, Lifehouse released "Stanley Climbfall," which wasn't as popular as its previous CD but still managed to produce the hit "Spin."

"Lifehouse," the band's third release, is a much better production because of John Alagia, who has worked with artists including Jason Mraz and the Dave Matthews Band. The result is a more suitable sound for the band. Listen to the aforementioned hits, then listen to "You and Me," the first single off this CD; you can hear production differences immediately.

However, the band still hasn't managed to find a niche to differentiate it from other bands out there. The first time I heard "You and Me" was on the radio at work; I didn't recognize the voice right away, even though I've been hearing the band for the last five years.

Jason Wade's lyrics, however, are as solid as they've ever been. What I like about Wade's songwriting is that it's about mood rather than thought. This allows the listener to take away different meanings from the words instead of being told what they mean.

So, what the band does well here is set the mood. They've done away with the radioesque grunge sound of their last two albums and focused on better lyrics and more honest delivery of their music. The result: a more earnest feel to their music.

Even though some of the songs begin to run together, there are some great ones in the mix. "You and Me" is one of those slow ballads you'll probably hear on Krater 96 for the next decade; "We'll Never Know" has this brooding, almost helpless, vibe you can relate to no matter how you approach it; "Chapter One," which is actually the 11th track, brings a different mood — a relaxing, kick-back vibe that is a nice change of pace in the album when listened to from start to finish.

Is this album good? Yes. I recommend it. Lifehouse is popular and a residual fanbase from the previous two records should ensure solid sales for this one. They know how to get fans and keep them on an album-to-album basis. All they (and just about any other band in music today) need to work on is individuality and the longevity of their product.

Jeremy Castillo is a student at Windward Community College and the editor of the college newspaper, Ka 'Ohana.

Have a CD you want to review? We're looking for hip-hop enthusiasts who can write about new music. Reach TGIF editor Debra Yuen at dyuen@honoluluadvertiser.com.