I don't know, I feel like most of us have the wrong idea when we say they should make an album that sounds like Version 2.0 of another album. Wouldn't that be kind of boring? What I love about STP is they try to make a new kind of sound for each album. Every album has its own merits that you wouldn't find on another album. Sure, Core and No. 4 were both "hard" but you must admit they were completely different from each other. I'd be happy with an album where I couldn't predict what it would or should sound like.
The only thing I will admit to though, is that maybe it's time to get back in the studio with Brendan O'Brien, and they should be careful for what they use as a single. I'm not a "Between the Lines" hater like a lot of people, but I could see where it had a lot of people scratching their heads. After nine years of no new material, picking a song a little bit more accessible may have been a wiser choice.