Spend your weekend listening to Weekend

The 1980s weren’t actually that bad, at least as far as music goes. There were a lot of great albums made then, although they didn’t always make it to the radio. On their debut LP, “Sports,” Weekend channels the best bands of that notorious decade with stunning proficiency.

Weekend has been labeled a “noise-pop” outfit, but the designation is a misnomer; there’s not a single bit of noise on “Sports.”

Instead, the songs are covered with a layer of haze that paradoxically obscures their beauty while making it even more glorious.

The band effortlessly evokes the great bands of the 1980s. At times, they shoot for the dark and sparse textures of Joy Division, but just as quickly they jump to songs melodic enough to make The Cure proud. Also like that great band, Weekend likes to start their songs with multiple minutes of instrumental bliss.

I couldn’t understand a single word from Weekend’s singer, but that didn’t matter. “Sports” is something to be enveloped by, and words would just get in the way.