The Photo Album from Death Cab For Cutie sucks

I just started listening to Death Cab For Cutie this year, and I have to say that they show signs of being a great band. I randomly picked Transatlanticism as my starting album, and I absolutely love it. The melodies, lyrics and production are all great. I then bought Give Up, the debut album by DCFC frontman Ben Gibbard's other group, the Postal Service, which is also a great, inventive album. So, I had big expectations for The Photo Album, their 2001 release. After many listens where I've tried to convince myself that I just needed time to get into it, I have to say that this album just isn't very good. There are a few good songs, but it isn't an album that I naturally just want to leave in the stereo. The vocals sound much more hollow. I love the memorable songwriting on Transatlanticism, whether its catchy pop numbers or slower songs that pack an emotional punch. The songs here just get boring. They just aren't as finely crafted and don't force me to get cought up in them. They aren't terrible, but I have to force myself to listen to them. Where are the hooks? When am I going to start rambling to all my friends about how great this album is? I won't be doing any such rambling anytime soon, and its a great disapointment, because Gibbard's recent efforts had me telling anyone and everyone about their greatness.