Few bands have worked a winning formula as rigorously as Lifehouse. Roaring out of the box a decade ago with the smash “Hanging By a Moment,” the L.A.-based group hit upon a radio-friendlier version of the grunge aesthetic. Four albums later, Lifehouse continues to work that approach for all it’s worth. “Halfway Gone,” “Had Enough” and “All In” sport anthemic choruses, wall-of-sound guitars and infectious melodies, and are given a brittle edge by frontman Jason Wade’s serrated vocals. Tracks like “Falling In” and “By Your Side,” on the other hand, come off as by-the-numbers ballads written with an eye toward rock arenas. The group does tinker with the mold on occasion: The trip-hop-flavored “It Is What It Is” ventures into Rob Thomas territory, while the Tom Petty-like title track emits a heartland, Americana vibe. Still, Smoke & Mirrors too often sounds like a band determined to play it safe. –RH