On their sophomore album, Laura Stevenson & The Cans go for an eclectic sound that skips across genres with quirky yet surefooted grace. There are echoes of everyone from Little Peggy March to The Weepies, served up with a touch of punk roughness. Stevenson proves to be a compelling interpreter of her whimsical, finely detailed lyrics, able to leap from fluttering trills into soul-bearing cries as the music swoons and eddies around her. There’s a lot going on here—the cheery vibe of tunes like “Peachy” and “Barnacles” is tempered by the bluesy alienation of “Caretaker” and the woozy, romping abandon of “The Wait.” The band recalls the spirit of ‘60s girl groups in “Master of Art” and takes a trip back to pre–World War II country in “Red Clay Roots.” Whether she’s matching bouncy hooks with offbeat, slightly perverse lyrics (“The Healthy One”) or curling her voice around a gorgeously bittersweet melody (“8:08”), Stevenson radiates a playful sincerity and a resilient optimism. Sit Resist is the sort of lyrically smart, slightly mysterious, and ultimately engaging work that enduring cult fandoms are built upon.