My Bloody Valentine returns in grand style

Over the past few decades, there have been so many rumors that Kevin Shields — the musical svengali/guitarist behind classic dreampop/shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine — was finally getting his act together to release a new album, it was hard to believe when reports surfaced late last year that said record was finally on its way.

The wait has ended. On Saturday night, the seminal band — which originally reunited in 2008 after years of inactivity and played some gigs in Europe and the U.S., including an hour-long set at Coachella in 2009 — unveiled m b v, their first full-length album of new material since 1991's Loveless. Described at the time as a little Sonic Youth, a little Cocteau Twins and a little Jesus and Mary Chain, their sound has been often imitated, but never duplicated.

The new album is available on the band's new website, and it's also available in its entirety on YouTube.

On Sunday, two tracks were aired on XMU, the SiruiusXM's indie rock station, and a rather poppy tune called "New You" was the obvious stand-out. Listen below.

I haven't heard the album in its entirety but what I have heard so far I've liked. Similar to a brilliant writer who believes he can never be as good as his first novel, My Bloody Valentine has lived on the reputation of Loveless for over two decades since its release, though the record was somewhat obscured at the time by the buzz that Nirvana had created with Nevermind.

MBV is officially the band's third release since their 1988 debut, Isn't Anything.