After a seven-year absence, Sullivan return with a smart, musically diverse effort that veers between straightforward pop/rock and more artfully layered approaches. The lyrics on Heavy Is the Head complement the album’s sonic sophistication by subtly lacing spiritual themes within tales of family dysfunction (“What’s Good for the King”), shame (“Pieces”), and redemption (“Higher Ground”). Singer Brooks Paschal and his bandmates display a Beatles-like penchant for well-contoured melodies that gains heft from bracing guitar firepower and unexpected tempo shifts. Playful yet morally grounded, Sullivan’s comeback album should delight old fans while winning new ones.