Pictures Saved is a three-in-one release: a few treble-heavy tracks that just need more sonic weight; some striking moodier/somber offerings that show the range of emotional conviction these singers can muster; and then, interestingly, two rock opera-esque pieces to close out the album. Even with a single arranger in Tom Anderson for the first eight tracks and seasoned director Gary Stroh at the helm, Pictures Saved doesn't sound as cohesive as expected for a ten-track release from TAG.

With nearly absent bass power and a tinny aural coating, both Bad Blood and Deep End sound like they're from a different group than we hear on the remainder of Pictures Saved. I do, however, enjoy hearing the album's title go by in Bad Blood, a nice grounding moment for the listener. Neither track offers a weak performance by any means, but as Lyla Seitz's creative original Tattooed, Stained, Imprinted uncurls on track three, that's when the real, tangible listening experience seems to begin. Seitz delivers inspiring vocal and songwriting maturity.

The jazzy swing of Good Days retreats back into lighter fare before TAG knocks out a big power play with Kaleidoscope, Whoever You Are, and Poems — a trio of strength and memorable impact. Kaleidoscope provides a beautiful spotlight for Lorian Moore, who is fronting a nightclub's microphone with the rapt attention of everyone in the place. Whoever You Are showcases a stunning duet from Ashley Perez-Marquez and Bright Olivier, voices that meld together in color just perfectly. There's a joyful rhythm to the piece, like they're actually strolling down the sidewalk together, with a bouncy scat solo mid-track. A soft and enveloping happiness. And then Poems — ridiculously great, with a gorgeous sound explosion at the key change, a wildly fun tempo, and an undercurrent of infectious energy. You can't sit still for this one. Could have used a bit of the leftover voltage to give WILDFLOWER a bit more oomph.

Lastly, Have You Got It In You and Pain for Fun come out of nowhere in their darker aggression but sound pretty cool. Either would make a fun single; the contrast is too much in comparison to the start of Pictures Saved in the context of this particular album with the rest of the source material, but guess what? Arranger Kay Genton has crafted art and it's clear their work resonates with these students, so we'll rejoice all the same. It's about providing young musicians with novel experiences to learn and grow, and I certainly hear that.

TAG remains one of my favorite groups to keep tabs on, and Pictures Saved certainly offers a lot to talk about.

By this point, listeners know what to expect from an album by Cypress Lake High School's The A Cappella Group. And while Cypress Lake HS, as a school focused on the performing arts, has a strong talent pool, this level of recording consistency for this long (over a decade!) for a group whose membership turns over at least every four years is stunningly impressive.

There are some things Pictures Saved does that are similar to recent TAG albums: modern pop-heavy repertoire, arrangements mostly by Tom Anderson (the final two songs were arranged by TAG alum Kay Genton), and an original song (Lyla Seitz's Tattooed, Stained, Imprinted). Of all the songs on Pictures Saved, Poems is the one that most sounds like classic TAG: bright, breezy, uptempo pop with a lush arrangement and a strong solo from Asheleigh Greim. The lilting Whoever You Are and the sassy Deep End are also really strong songs on this tracklist.

And of course, at this point, most listeners expect an original song from TAG, and Tattooed, Stained, Imprinted is another excellent addition to the collection. It doesn't sound like it was penned by a high school student, and Tom Anderson's arrangement gives it a gorgeous sense of texture and momentum, giving the track a bright, propulsive energy.

But what really stands out on Pictures Saved are the songs that you might not expect to be in TAG's wheelhouse. Kaleidoscope is a minimalistic, sweet ballad. Soloist Lorian Moore's voice rings like a bell overtop a sparse, airy arrangement, and the song conveys Chappell Roan's emotion even without a big flashy sound. WILDFLOWER is a similarly lovely ballad, capped with Gigi Leize-Adams's beautiful solo and a terrific Anderson arrangement.

With Pictures Saved, TAG shows that they aren't just consistent, they're consistently excellent. The group continues to evolve, adding another mature original and some beautifully tender ballads to its deep catalogue of recordings, without losing the group's signature sound and emotional delivery.

Another year, another "5" in the book for TAG. Pictures Saved is everything you've come to know and love the group for. The music is the group's well-established balance of fun and bouncy uptempo pieces contrasted with vulnerable and sincere ballads. It's a little bit of everything and sure to leave a smile on your face.

TAG has a unique style, almost to the point that I'm convinced I could identify the group after hearing about four measures of music. The arrangements have a sort of distinct fun and bounciness. There are so many different songs that can encapsulate this style, but let's look at Bad Blood. This Trousdale original is a great way to set the scene. Geira Cameron, Lorian Moore, and Arco Williams are all strong soloists that also work incredibly well as a trio. The backgrounds are interesting but calculated, providing interest while also perfectly supporting the lead voices to let them shine. This sentiment applies to so many songs, whether it's the mellow jazz/pop fusion of Whoever You Are, the swagger of Good Days, or many of the other tracks. These are songs that you can sit and listen to deliberately or just let the music play.

It's never a TAG album until I'm reading the album liners and am surprised that my favorite track is an original piece of music. Lyla Seitz created something special with Tattooed, Stained, Imprinted. You can feel the pain behind the lyrics telling of a love had and lost. The story keeps accelerating, creating some great sound painting of a mind spiraling as thoughts race faster and faster. The bridge is almost like a scream into the void in frustration. I love that the members of the group have the ability to write music that the group is then able to bring to life. The songs lack the polish and smoothed edges that commercially produced music has; they are raw and unfiltered, and I love each one every time.

The end of the album is the most curious to me. There is an entire tonal shift for the last two tracks. Have You Got It In You is filled to the brim with driving theatricality. The backgrounds are almost more interesting than the solo, filling in the gaps in the story and acting as a counter-soloist. Pain for Fun is dark and haunting. Ariya King and Isa Oren each have strong moments as soloists as well as during their duet. Everything about these final tracks is drastically different from the previous eight, and I really like it. They act similar to bonus tracks — a totally different thought that should be presented but not in conjunction with the others. It speaks a lot to a group that is willing to continuously experiment with its sound and find something new. Even if I never hear this style again from TAG, I will return and listen to these tracks purely because they are unique and so well-executed.

I don't think I'll ever quite get over that this is the kind of music I'm casually expecting from high school students. TAG continues to establish itself as one of the best in the game in recorded a cappella, and I never get tired of hearing these musicians. I'm happy to take Pictures Saved and listen to it again and again until the next installment.