One of the most unexpected returns of 2023 came from Drop Nineteens with their first new album in three decades; even more remarkably, Hard Light had nearly the same lineup that had recorded their strong 1992 debut Delaware. The engaging vocal chemistry of Greg Ackell and Paula Kelley remains key, as readily heard on the surging energy of “Scapa Flow,” while a refreshed, calmer blend of easy tunefulness, shoegaze-friendly feedback flow and underrated dynamics is apparent on songs like “The Price Was High,” “Gal” and “Another One Another.”