Rating: 2.5 stars

Few things in the contemporary world are as boring as being average.

Even the world itself is forgettable. Where’s the fun of saying “fantastic,” “outstanding” or even “elegant?”

The main issue that I have with Belle and Sebastian’s first album since 2010, “Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance,” is a major shift in tone and experimentation ends up being … well, boring.

Experiments are never supposed to be boring, apathetic sideshows, but that’s what “Girls in Peacetime” turns into after a very good opening track, “Nobody’s Empire.”

For starters, the album, billed as a step in the electronic dance direction for the Scottish group finishing their second decade together, doesn’t come close to resembling “dance” until the third track, nearly nine minutes in.

After that, there are few hints of dance until the sixth track, 22 minutes in.

If a band is going to brag about experimenting and new directions, don’t you think they could bother to show off their experiments more often than twice in six tracks?

Also, the album is just too long; few will have patience to listen to a 61-minute quasi-dance-that-isn’t-dance record in 2015.

As someone who has previously enjoyed Belle & Sebastian’s work, this is a continuation of a downturn for them.

Looking back through their releases, their last album that could be called “good” or better is 2003’s “Dear Catastrophe Waitress,” which was – you guessed it! – 12 years ago.

Maybe the more dangerous point should be asked: if billed experimentation and forgettable songwriting are the new, bold direction, is anyone going to care?

For now, download the first track and the last one; they’ve both got nice melodies and nice songwriting, I guess.