Montreal pop band TOPS wrap messy emotions in smooth delivery, softening lyrical themes of alienation, aimlessness, complex relationships, and interpersonal power dynamics with breezy sophisti-pop melodies. The group grew artistically over a series of self-produced albums, with work like 2014's Picture You Staring meeting with critical praise for its blend of outsider perspectives and classic songcraft. After a series of releases for Arbutus Records, they issued their fourth studio album, 2020's I Feel Alive, on their own Musique TOPS label.