When the four members of Preoccupations, the Canadian post-punk band formerly known as Vietcong, wrote and recorded their self-titled album, released in 2016, they were in a state of almost total instability. Frontman Matt Flegel, guitarist Danny Christiansen, multi-instrumentalist Scott Munro, and drummer Mike Wallace had moved to different cities and decided to change their band name, but had not yet chosen a new one. While their previous album, Viet Cong, was built on the abstract cycles of creation and destruction, Preoccupations explores how this sometimes stifling, sometimes revealing trap affects our lives. It is a unique and invigorating collection that proves that what is punitive can also be soothing, that everything can change without disturbing your compass. Your best year can also be your worst year.