The latest from Rhode Island’s rowdy rockers Deer Tick is certainly a study in the evolution of a band. Where their last record, 2011’s Divine Providence was a rollicking cocaine bender of a ride, Negativity is the inevitable emotional rollercoaster of the comedown to follow. In places, like “The Curtain” and “The Dream’s In the Ditch,” Deer Tick come across as an angrier, wiser version of the boys they were on The Black Dirt Sessions or Born on Flag Day. In other places, like “Just Friends” and “Big House,” John McCauley shows he can sing sincere heartbreakers with the best of them. Throughout, the band expands their sounds far beyond the “alt-country” pigeonhole they found themselves in after their beauty debut, War Elephant. The “Turn the Page”-like sax solo and the subtle coral backups on “Mirror Walls” are particularly on point. My only hope is that John and the boys won’t get lost forever in the eponymous downer that spawned this great addition to the discography of an always interesting band, and will come out swinging a little more on the next one. (Arts & Crafts, deertickmusic.com) Sheldon Birnie