Utah's pop-rock band Neon Trees is well known for its fun, flirty hits (Remember "Animal" and "Everybody Talks?"), and their third studio album proves to be no different.

Don't be fooled, though. "Pop Psychology" is more than just some dance-y tunes. It is an amusing perspective on the modern-day relationship and generally the emotions of today's youth, which is rightfully portrayed even in the album title.

"Pop Psychology" opens with the catchy '80s-reminiscent tune "Love In the 21st Century," which describes relationships in the modern technological age.

The title of the song seems to be the theme for the first half of the album, with song titles such as "Text Me In The Morning," "Teenager In Love," and the two hit singles, "Sleeping With A Friend" and "I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends)."

The tracks of this first half of the album accurately encompass the detached, promiscuous youth of contemporary times, highlighted by lyrics such as, "You tell me you're tipsy/I tell you you're pretty/We could spend the night if you're still sure/But text me in the morning." 

Furthermore, all five of these songs have an upbeat, hand-clapping feel with a steady drumbeat and a funky guitar melody, which humorously contrasts with some of the dark, lonely lyric such as, "I was socially absurd, but who cares?/Yeah I've been shaking with withdrawals/I'm a junkie loser/I never would choose to live the way I do but I do" from "Teenager in Love." In a sense, this contradiction further embraces the lost, confused, but still fun 21st century generation.

The record takes a more emotional turn with the next three songs, "Unavoidable," "Foolish Behavior" and "Voices In The Halls." "Foolish Behavior" and "Unavoidable" (a duet between lead singer Tyler Glenn and female drummer Elaine Bradley), both with the typical fast and steady drumbeat, describe the passion of love and attraction—a stark divergence from the superficiality depicted in the first few songs.

Similarly, "Voice In The Halls" illustrates the emptiness of a break-up and the struggle of moving on, which, again, is incredibly deep in comparison to the "one night stand" attitude of the previous tracks.

The last two songs are undoubtedly the most personal on the album. Lead singer and pianist Tyler Glenn recently came out as gay in an interview with Rolling Stone, and while this is not what the songs are about, there are unmistakable hints to his feelings in these tracks.

"Living In Another World" describes the isolation the singer feels as he realizes he just doesn't belong or fit in the society he lives in, with lyrics such as, "I guess I've always been this way/It's been hard for me to say/Close my eyes, it'll go away." Along the same lines, "First Things First" advises the listeners to find a place where they feel comfortable and appreciated, while, most importantly, always being themselves—the seemingly underlying message of the entire album.

As a whole, "Pop Psychology" is an album worth listening to, for Neon Trees uses catchy tunes catchy and an interesting mix of lighthearded, yet lonely, lyrics to comment on the youth of today's society and their relationship with each other.

The band insists that as shallow and strange as we may be, we must learn to accept one another and maybe try to find a connection with someone that runs deeper than a hook-up at last night's party.

Read more of NT's album reviews here.