Hard Candy (2002)

That Coke ad was no fluke: Adam Duritz and underlings really mean to go for the gold this time, leaving the mopiness of recent duds largely behind in favor of sprightly tunes that all but scream ''follow-up single.'' Beneath the surface shimmer are 13 more doleful songs about the impossibility of Duritz's ever forging a lasting relationship, but it's clear from his use of outright pop as a Candy wrapper that he's been even more troubled by the buying public's commitment problem.