For Foster the People, “Pumped Up Kicks” has no doubt been a blessing and a curse.

The wildly popular single from their debut album, “Torches,” put them on the map as one of indie rock’s artists to watch. But “Pumped Up Kicks” is the kind of song that casts a shadow on a band rather than paves the way for new material.

It’s fortunate, then, that the band’s sophomore album, “Supermodel,” which came out on March 18, is brimming with new material that is better than what they’ve done before.

“Supermodel” kicks off with “Are You What You Want to Be?” The catchy track features a familiar combination of guitar-driven indie rock and electronic music, and it even includes elements of world music in its unconventional percussion. All this is topped off with a melody that is anything but obvious, but is still memorable.

“Are You What You Want to Be?” is a perfectly appropriate question to ask at the start of this band’s sophomore album. For singer Mark Foster, the song serves as a challenge to himself to ensure he is, in fact, what he wants to be. After releasing an album that was largely defined by one song, Foster is ready to step away from that and be who he is today.

The theme of self-discovery is strong throughout the album. It continues on “Coming of Age,” a song about Foster’s revelation that his actions have consequences that affect others, not just himself.

“Ask Yourself,” a song with a similar message, follows the opener. It’s about questioning rules, conventions and norms. It urges the listener to examine his or her daily routine and determine whether or not it’s fulfilling.

The music is the best on the album. It offers a refreshing use of dynamics in an era where most recordings are loud at any volume. “Ask Yourself” constantly ebbs and flows, swells and recedes. It sweeps you along like a wave would, and it’s impossible not to get caught up in it.

One of Foster the People’s strengths is the sometimes jarring diversity of their music. It takes bravery for a band to change up its sound and style as frequently and extremely as Foster the People does.

While the first three tracks of the album are straightforward enough, “Nevermind” sounds like new age elevator music. But that’s what they do. If another band released this song, it might be surprising, but Foster the People is known for making weird, quirky music. Even if they failed, it’s refreshing to hear a band trying new things.

But they don’t fail. They manage to jump from new age to an alternative rock song with electronic instrumentation. “Pseudologia Fantastica” is the most electronic-driven song on the album, but at its core, it’s a grunge song. Foster sings a smooth, connected melody over aggressive music, but they’ve just replaced muddy guitars with rich synths. There’s even a bluesy vibe thanks to some simple guitar licks between verses.

And then, of course, there’s a church choir interlude. Because why not?

The interlude leads into “Best Friend,” a ‘70s pop-inspired track complete with disco influences and a horn section. On the surface, it seems like this album would be all over the place. That was actually a problem on “Torches,” which lacked cohesion and sort of fell apart because of it.

But “Supermodel” has consistent production holding it together. Even though one song sounds like elevator music, one sounds like alternative rock and another sounds like it would be playing in a roller skating rink in 1975, the sound quality remains similar enough to make it work. They’ve found that sweet spot between losing focus and putting out the same song 12 times, which is no easy task — evidenced by the low number of musicians achieving it.

The rest of the album features ray gun sound effects (“A Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon”), a Radiohead wannabe (“Goats in Trees”), more severe dynamics (“The Truth”) and a quiet, intimate conclusion (“Fire Escape”).

It’s still unclear whether Foster the People will outrun their one-hit wonder status, but whether the world recognizes it or not, “Supermodel” proves this band has a lot more music to offer.

Published on March 25, 2014 at 1:00 am

Contact Jessica: jmcabe@syr.edu | @Jessica_Cabe