Fitz and the Tantrums’ joyous, modern-Motown modus operandi translates best in concert, but the LA sextet comes close to capturing the foot-stomping energy of its live shows on at least the first half of its self-titled third LP. From propulsive opener “HandClap,’’ as infectious as anything in the Top 40, to anthemic single “Roll Up,’’ the album proves emphatically that Fitz can still craft a catchy chorus. But the band’s glossiest record yet seems geared toward merging its brassy, retro-glam aesthetic with a commercial-minded agenda. For a time it succeeds, meting out earworms with take-no-prisoners rapidity. Eventually, though, Fitz’s mainstream pop ambitions outpace its once-emblematic sense of funk (and fun) — even on ballads “Burn It Down’’ and “Run It,’’ the band sounds more lost, mired in lackluster lyrics and mundane melodies. If this eponymous effort is meant as a statement of artistic evolution on the part of a band eyeing chart success, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic for Fitz’s more soulful former self.

ISAAC FELDBERG

ESSENTIAL “HandClap’’

Isaac Feldberg can be reached by email at isaac.feldberg@globe.com, or on Twitter at @i_feldberg.