diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index 76f34036f..5206562de 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -391,7 +391,8 @@ class ImportTask(object):
         if session.config['incremental']:
             self.save_history()
 
-        self.cleanup(copy=session.config['copy'], delete=session.config['delete'],
+        self.cleanup(copy=session.config['copy'],
+                     delete=session.config['delete'],
                      move=session.config['move'])
         self._emit_imported(session.lib)
 
@@ -430,7 +431,8 @@ class ImportTask(object):
     def lookup_candidates(self):
         """Retrieve and store candidates for this album.
         """
-        artist, album, candidates, recommendation = autotag.tag_album(self.items)
+        artist, album, candidates, recommendation = \
+            autotag.tag_album(self.items)
         self.cur_artist = artist
         self.cur_album = album
         self.candidates = candidates
@@ -574,6 +576,13 @@ class ImportTask(object):
         self.set_choice(choice)
         session.log_choice(self)
 
+    def reload(self):
+        """Reload albums and items from the database.
+        """
+        for item in self.imported_items():
+            item.load()
+        self.album.load()
+
     # Utilities.
 
     def prune(self, filename):
@@ -667,6 +676,9 @@ class SingletonImportTask(ImportTask):
         self.set_choice(choice)
         session.log_choice(self)
 
+    def reload(self):
+        self.item.load()
+
 
 # FIXME The inheritance relationships are inverted. This is why there
 # are so many methods which pass. We should introduce a new
@@ -1055,8 +1067,9 @@ def plugin_stage(session, func, task):
     func(session, task)
 
     # Stage may modify DB, so re-load cached item data.
-    for item in task.imported_items():
-        item.load()
+    # FIXME Importer plugins should not modify the database but instead
+    # the albums and items attached to tasks.
+    task.reload()
 
 
 @pipeline.mutator_stage
diff --git a/beetsplug/fetchart.py b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
index 1b47e07c3..4b4f53bea 100644
--- a/beetsplug/fetchart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
@@ -278,8 +278,7 @@ class FetchArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                 # For any other choices (e.g., TRACKS), do nothing.
                 return
 
-            album = session.lib.get_album(task.album_id)
-            path = art_for_album(album, task.paths, self.maxwidth, local)
+            path = art_for_album(task.album, task.paths, self.maxwidth, local)
 
             if path:
                 self.art_paths[task] = path
@@ -290,7 +289,7 @@ class FetchArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         if task in self.art_paths:
             path = self.art_paths.pop(task)
 
-            album = session.lib.get_album(task.album_id)
+            album = task.album
             src_removed = (config['import']['delete'].get(bool) or
                            config['import']['move'].get(bool))
             album.set_art(path, not src_removed)
diff --git a/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py b/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py
index eea428dfa..6646e6af3 100644
--- a/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py
+++ b/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ class LastGenrePlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
     def imported(self, session, task):
         """Event hook called when an import task finishes."""
         if task.is_album:
-            album = session.lib.get_album(task.album_id)
+            album = task.album
             album.genre, src = self._get_genre(album)
             log.debug(u'added last.fm album genre ({0}): {1}'.format(
                 src, album.genre
diff --git a/beetsplug/replaygain.py b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
index 87a4eb2dc..acf7afc86 100644
--- a/beetsplug/replaygain.py
+++ b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
@@ -601,8 +601,7 @@ class ReplayGainPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             return
 
         if task.is_album:
-            album = session.lib.get_album(task.album_id)
-            self.handle_album(album, False)
+            self.handle_album(task.album, False)
         else:
             self.handle_track(task.item, False)