In a year that has been filled with random comebacks, from Filter to Paula Abdul, one band that has always prided itself on being random has decided to return after a long 16-year absence. “Funplex” marks the B-52s’ first full-length studio album since 1992 — and it’s shockingly good. The B-52s have had a long and storied career that began back in 1978 with the release of “Rock Lobster,” still one of the most unique songs in rock history. The group followed up that daring single with two classic albums in 1979 and 1980 but started to hit a creative rut by the mid-80s.

It was around this time guitarist Ricky Wilson died of AIDS and the group almost disbanded. Luckily it soldiered on as a four-piece and released the commercial blockbuster “Cosmic Thing” in 1989. The record churned out multiple smash hits including “Channel Z,” “Roam” and “Love Shack,” the latter of which became one of the most beloved pop songs of the past 30 years.

If anything, “Funplex” doesn’t sound like a band coming out of retirement but, rather, a logical progression of the B-52s’ quirky party-rock.

Lead single “Funplex” is as catchy as any of the group’s previous smashes, with the exception of “Roam,” and if there is justice it should become a major pop hit this spring.

The album as a whole sees the band either rocking out more, with songs like “Pump” and “Funplex,” or exploring more electronic dance textures like “Juliet of the Spirits” and “Love in the Year 3000.” These songs are the album’s most adventurous and feature spacey synthesizers that fit with the futuristic theme of the album.

One thing that has grown with the B-52s is the sexually explicit nature of the lyrics. While the band was always concerned about love and sex, never before has it been this forward.

In “Too Much to Think About” the group sings about “Stokin’ and stroking, I’m hypnotized, we’re in deep as the night, when bodies collide.”

In “Love in the Year 3000” the group mixes sex with futuristic technology. “Tentative tentacles are grabbin’ me. We’re making space love in zero gravity.”

These lyrics, while fun for the most part, can get a bit distracting. Also, besides “Funplex” and “Juliet of the Spirits,” the rest of the songs will probably sound great live but are not strong enough to stand out on their own as singles.

These are minor complaints, though. “Funplex”  might not be the B-52s’ best album, but it’s certainly not its worst. Considering the long layoff and the group members all being well over 50, “Funplex” is quite the achievement.

"Funplex" by The B-52s received three out of four stars.