After first paying homage to their '60s garage punk heroes on their initial barrage of releases, including the LPs Howl and All-Night Riot, the Makers went on to define the contemporary garage genre with their 1997 fourth album, Hunger--a scorching fireball of wailing guitars, rumbling rhythms, snot-nosed attitude and anxious defiance. Now, just one year later, the Makers have made yet another pivotal leap in their artistic evolution: On their new album, Psychopathia Sexualis, they have virtually abandoned garage, widening their scope toward sophistication, heightened sensuality, and diversity. It's a mature, tasteful album where the Makers explore a wealth of mixed emotions (other than hate, angst, and rage) via paths of soul, art rock, and glam. Accordingly, the pace of Psychopathia is varied--sometimes it's frantic, sometimes it's relaxed, depending on the band's incessant mood swings. Perhaps the most striking feature of the album is singer Michael Maker's voice: He actually sings--sweetly at times--instead of snarling and shouting. More than any other Makers release--and there have been two dozen--Psychopathia Sexualis stands firmly on its own, transcending any and all rock genres. --Joe Ehrbar