In 2010, Foster the People’s breakout single “Pumped Up Kicks” took over radio stations, and the band caught major media attention. After the hit left the airwaves, however, there has not been much of a buzz surrounding the trio and the March release of their second album, “Supermodel.”

I fell in love with the band’s first album, “Torches,” as soon as I heard it. The band gained critical acclaim and left me wanting more new songs immediately. However, I feared that Foster the People’s follow-up would merely be a sequel to “Torches.” That fear was proven wrong.

In discovering “Supermodel,” I let the distinctly more relaxed feel of the second album take over. The opening track entitled “Are You What You Want to Be?” kicks off the album in exactly the right way. Listeners can recognize the band without the sensation of déjà vu. The song most reminiscent of “Torches,” “Best Friend,” still strays enough from overly traditional pop to ensure that this album will not be what was expected. My personal favorite track from the album, “Goats in Trees,” is a downright hippie acoustic jam with solemn lyrics that have nothing to do with the title.

As a whole, “Supermodel” gives the listener several new sides of the trio from grungy to whimsical. The audience gets a grittier side of the band and can finally really feel the Clash influences in songs like “Ask Yourself” and “A Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon,” using their usual powerful lyrics over a grungy guitar and intense synth bass. Somehow, these tracks also achieve a feel very similar to the Killers’ “Hot Fuss” phase while balancing their 70s edge. The album’s most popular track, “Coming of Age” can be classified as an homage to “Torches,” employing similar beachy melodies and repetitive 60s undertones.

The album, however, is not in any was a “Torches 2.” “Supermodel” seems to care much less about pleasing the public—less pop, more psychedelic. The last album overlaid melancholy words over ecstatic pop beats, while the follow-up brings a new enlightened perspective on top of more relaxed music. This in no way means “Supermodel” lacks the catchy records that stick in your head, but a more acoustic and naturally rock feel challenges the listeners’ preconceptions about the band.

I’m not sure that “Supermodel” will be as big a hit as “Torches” was. However, I have no doubt that the album will gain appreciation with their loyal fans and indie music listeners. I bought the album on iTunes and it has, in my opinion, already paid for itself. I listen to it incessantly and don’t think I’ll stop anytime soon. It definitely feels like Foster the People is coming of age.