The album also marks the first time the US and UK releases have featured identical track listings.
Content
Surgery has been remarked on by critics for having a more refined sound to 2002's Phoenix,[1] a sound described by band leader Bobby Hecksher as "space age doo-wop".[2] The average track length is notably shorter to previous releases, and the album is lyrically darker to the drug-centric Phoenix and Rise and Fall.[1]
Surgery has been generally well-received by critics. Drowned in Sound wrote: "'Surgery' isn't the unlistenable, depression-fest it's [sic] lyrical content threatens it to be. Instead, it's heartfelt message combined with the monstrous sound behind it make it one of the most curiously uplifting records of the year."[1]