One of those bands who pop up with bursts of brilliance when they are needed most. Belle and Sebastian’s latest A Bit of Previous is “not a pandemic record”, as frontman Stuart Murdoch lays out in the extensive, multi-bandmember penned liner notes. The first full album recorded in hometown Glasgow since 1999’s If You’re Feeling Sinister, the album feels far more collaborative and Band-Like than any B&S album before it. Juggling anthemic church choruses (lead single “If They’re Shooting At You” — as in “you must be doing something right”) with pattering synth dance tracks (“Prophets On Hold” is an incredible standout) and indie rockers (“Young and Stupid”, “Unnecessary Drama”) can lead to an overstuffed collection of bad ideas, if you’re doing it wrong. But Belle and Sebastian only clock in to get the job done right.

– Alex Riggs