Still, Mould writes great songs and is a wizard at the soundboard. "Paralyzed", the disc's first single, features a familiar 40-foot wall of guitar and layered vocals. He sounds like he's stretching to sing into a mic that's just out of reach--earnestly pouring in everything he's got.

And more than anything--more than the guitars, more than the meticulously groomed soundscapes--it's that sincerity that's been Mould's trademark. He's older, more circumspect and prudent than the days of Zen Arcade, but deep down he's still an idealistic young kid--eager to please, anxious to express those idyllic intangibles that inspire idealistic young kids to pick up a guitar in the first place.

Body of Song doesn't break new ground like Modulate (although a limited Deluxe Edition features a second disc of more adventurous remixes), and it doesn't deliver the level of songwriting heard on Candy Apple Grey, or the energy of Copper Blue. But it does all three better than any CD Mould's released in over a decade. It's sincere and straightforward and heartfelt. You can't get more punk than that.

John Poulos is the proprietor of Blogfucker.