Considering that they splintered into pieces decades ago*, I wasn't expecting much from the new Camper Van Beethoven single, the second to herald the release of their eighth album, except that it's pretty great—and I say that as someone who couldn't stand Cracker, the alternative-rock outfit which featured singer-songwriter David Lowery at his most strident and self-consciously clever (and remains a going concern).

"Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out," however, picks up where the band left off in the late-'80s (I'm thinking specifically of their Status Quo cover, "Pictures of Matchstick Men"). Jonathan Segel's violin-playing was always a big part of the CVB sound, and his whirling dervish approach to the instrument lends the track an air of mystery and romance. One of 2013's more pleasant surprises.

* They officially reunited in 2004 for New Roman Times, but things have been quiet since.

Camper Van was among a handful of popular acts I resisted in the 1980s for a variety of reasons, mostly because they were associated with "college rock," a genre with which I've long had a love-hate relationship, but my first Seattle job was at Cellophane Square in Bellevue—yep, the mall—and co-worker Matthew Reid Schwartz, who would later join Kinski, convinced me to give them a closer listen, so he made the following tape, and that did the trick. Thanks, Matt!

From the fan-filled press notes for the upcoming record:

"I was already a fan of CVB when they came to Seattle and played the Fabulous Rainbow Tavern. The show was amazing. I remember besides all the great songs from their first album, that they played the 'Theme From S.W.A.T.' too, with Jonathan playing the melody on a tiny Casio. Their songwriting and production skills started at great, and got even better with Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart and Key Lime Pie. When I saw them in Portland a few years ago the spark was still there—a fantastic show."

— Scott McCaughey* (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5, R.E.M., etc.)

* McCaughey also worked at Cellophane Square, in the University District, for a few years.

429 Records releases La Costa Perdida on Jan 22 (listen to first single "Northern California Girls" here). Camper Van plays the Tractor Tavern on Feb 22.