13. Class Clown Spots A UFO (2012)

After the lackluster Let’s Go To The Factory, fans could be forgiven for not being terribly excited for the Guided By Voices reunion. But Class Clown Spots A UFO, released just five months later, made us true believers again. More than anything, it captures the structural rhythm of earlier Guided By Voices albums as the band jumps unpredictably from silly minute-long throwaways like the hilariously cheesy “They And Them” to proper three-minute pop songs like the wonderful title track. GBV’s ace-in-the-hole songwriter Tobin Sprout even rekindles some of old ’80s jangle-pop love on “Starfire.” Like all great GBV albums, it’s a friendly reminder that, yes, the band’s well of great melodies really is bottomless, and that even with simple ingredients like guitar, bass, drums, and voice, anything is possible.