Underworld: Oblivion With Bells

Tied in perpetuity to the final scene in Trainspotting, when Ewan McGregor runs toward a new future with a fresh bag of money and a life of wastedness crashing at his back, Underworld hearkens back to an era when "electronica" grew out of rave and played around with song-form as much as with beats. Nobody genuinely invested in the evolution of dance music since says "electronica" anymore, but they do still respect their history. So cue Underworld, back with its first new album in five years and armed with a sound that proves well-rounded when not bogged down in a mid-tempo netherzone. Such is the case about half the time, but expansive, unfurling bangers like "Beautiful Burnout" help keep Underworld above the line that separates has-beens from are-stills.