I’m not aware of a happier sounding band in the world than the String Cheese Incident. They’re just so gosh darn sunny all the time that gee whiz, I can’t help but feel a bit jealous.

I guess they do have a right to be so damn smiley. They’re in an immensely popular rock ‘n’ roll band that succeeds without the hindrances of a major label, have a long list of great musicians anxious to work with them, and to top it all off, live in gorgeous Boulder, Colorado.

For the band’s third studio album (fifth total), the group decided to bring in Los Lobos saxman/producer Steve Berlin to produce. For a band almost entirely born out of its live performance, it was a logical move to choose a producer who took part in some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll albums of the decade.

But String Cheese has never been a pure rock ‘n’ roll band. They could burn through a Jim Monroe bluegrass romp, and turn on a dime into a slow reggae shuffle before blasting into Dead-like space-rock all within the same extended jam. Schizophrenic? Maybe, but inspired all the same.

Outside Inside consists of 11 of the most sparkly sounding tunes one could imagine. This light, bouncy mood is both the band’s strength and its weakness. The joy felt by these musicians in playing immediately translates to the listener. It’s a feel-good album full of beautiful guitar and keyboard solos, and even some catchy melodies that defy the all-improv, no song jamband stereotype. Musically this album is truly fantastic and incredibly funky at times.

The problem lies in its weak lyrics. The sophomoric wordplay is unfortunate because their voices and harmonies sound so incredibly polished and strong. There are just far too many overused new-agey, neo-hippie cliches. Consider the chorus to “Close Your Eyes”: Close your eyes and look inside, see what you can find. Open your mind and take the time to learn from your soul, or the ill-advised mellow white boy rap on “Joyful Sound”: Greet every day with full purpose, with passion and pride, I’m gonna follow my heart and have nothing to hide.

Call me a cynic, but this is just a bit too saccharine-sweet for me. There is not a single edge on the entire album. It is a sound that is completely round.

Aside from the unfortunate lyrics, it actually is an enjoyable album. Highlights would have to be the slide guitar-driven “Sing A New Song”, the slammin’ funk of “Lost” featuring the huge saxophone presence of guest Karl Denson, and the acoustic pickin’ party “Up The Canyon.” The album’s centerpiece “Rollover” best displays what the SCI is all about.

Mixing loose, vibrant grooves with a crisp reggae-inflected sing-along chorus, they succeed in creating a blissful 12-minute excursion into the minds of five talented musicians who’ve maybe taken a few too many happy pills.