You're absolutely right.
It can't hold a candle to Sample and a Drum Machine, but it blows Life's a Collection out of the water. I blame the failing of his second album due to the changes in his life. With his mother dying of cancer, he lost some spark and aggressiveness, and swapped it for a new attitude on life.
Organic Music for a Digital world comes out and has some more flare to it, but still lacks a bit. There are good tracks, but nothing like his first album. He always speaks of the end. I think he may have had enough of trying to make it with his music.