Japanese singer-songwriter Joji released his hotly anticipated new album, “Piss In The Wind,” on Feb. 6. It marks his latest album since “Smithereens” and its leading single “Glimpse of Us” broke records in 2022.

I believe Joji is an extremely talented songwriter. My personal favorite of his, the 2020s “Nectar,” showcased his ability to take songs that others would turn into TikTok background filler and craft ethereal, R&B-tinged soundscapes. He has the ability to one day create an album that will live on as a stone-cold classic. This is not that album.

“Piss In The Wind” is the first Joji album on his new independent label, Palace Creek, since departing from his original label, 88rising. This brings a new level of creative control for Joji, which he implements fully at the start of the album.

Four of the first five songs are singles, and they certainly earn their keep. Opening track “Pixelated Kisses” is the clear standout and reminds us that Joji has not lost his touch, immersing the listener in a thundering, moody sonic environment. My favorite single, “Past Won’t Leave My Bed,” is a gorgeous swaying ballad with lyrics fitting for a solemn midnight walk. (“A single note of my persistent hopeless lullabies.” Unreal.)

Beyond the album’s stellar start, however, the rest of the 22 tracks constitute a variety of different beats, producers and more moody lyrics. This results in solid, head-bobbing highs (“Rose Colored”) and painfully mediocre lows (“Forehead Touch the Ground”), some of which can barely even be called songs. I don’t mean that figuratively; tracks like “Fade to Black” barely clock in over a minute. The album as a whole is only 11 minutes longer than Joji’s debut, “Ballads 1,” despite having 10 more songs.

Maybe Joji assumed that by the halfway mark, we would be turning our brains off and simply vibing with his signature alternative sound. It is true that none of my complaints with “Piss In The Wind” can take away from its stellar opening and restatement of Joji’s style.

However, for an artist with such a great ear that was given more creative control, I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by the album as a whole.

Hey, at least “Pixelated Kisses” still hits.

5/10 (Must-listens: “Pixelated Kisses,” “Past Won’t Leave My Bed”)