During his stint in the Velvet Underground, John Cale helped pioneer music that was equal parts Tin Pan Alley and avant-garde. On Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood, Cale’s first full-length studio release since 2005’s blackAcetate, he again attempts to strike that balance, but this time the results are only moderately successful.

The album’s opener, “I Wanna Talk 2 U,” was created during a session with Danger Mouse, and with its syncopated guitars, it's the catchiest song on the record. With different production, another highlight, “Living With You,” might have fit on Cale’s classic solo debut, Vintage Violence. Cale’s vocals—never his strong suit, although always serviceable—now sound in places like Interpol's Paul Banks. The production seems dated; “Scotland Yard” sounds like Scary Monsters-era David Bowie, while “Mothra,” “December Rain,” and “Face to the Sky” feature AutoTune.

If Cale is truly aiming for the experimental, then he is behind the times. Early Cale records like Paris 1919 were masterpieces that pushed musical boundaries. Although Shifty Adventures does have its moments, if you’re looking to break into Cale’s impressive catalog, then you may want to venture outside of Nookie Wood.