Montreal is home to one of the most exciting pop scenes of the past few years, and in many ways we have Arbutus Records to thank for it. They grew out of a DIY space into a label and artist community that’s supported heavy hitters like Grimes, Lydia Ainsworth, and Majical Cloudz. TOPS, another labelmate of this King-in-the-North, broke onto the scene in 2012 with Tender Opposites, a functional record with hints of promise and not much else. So when their sophomore album, Picture You Staring, dropped last month, we got righteously kicked in the face with our misguided expectations—the album is sophisticated, bright, and revitalizing in all the ways Tender Opposites was not.
The first track off the album, “Way to Be Loved,” begins with a tUnE-yArDs-y quality to it, percussive and pleasantly unpredictable. The guitar riffs act as the glue, guiding Jane Penny’s breathy, mercurial vocals. These moving parts make the chorus just that more powerful as everything slides into place in their story and their sound. “Way to Be Loved” has the comfort and catch of an ’80s hit but simple, poignant lyrics, marking TOPS’ graduation from their past uber-sweet synth pop to a more matured yet playful identity.