Return to the Sea
Product Description Hailing from Montreal, Islands is a 7 piece band founded by former Unicorns front man Nick Diamond and drummer J'aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of the Unicorns right as they were on the cusp of breaking through, this highly anticipated debut release by Islands entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies, contains collaborations with members of Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade and Beck. Amazon.com "I woke up thirsty on an island in the sea," went the last line in the last track on the last album by beloved indie rock pranksters, The Unicorns. At least two members took those words to heart, as frontman Nick Diamonds and drummer J'aime Tambeur return as Islands, a Montreal duo that reigns in some of its former band's more obnoxious qualities in favor of more manicured melodies and purposeful arrangements. Oh, who are we kidding? The seven-minutes-plus opener, "Swans (Life After Death)," sets the insane tone, showcasing sprawling rhythms and a freewheeling arrangement that leaves room for epic guitar solos, blustery piano flourishes and a falsetto vocal lead. It's like "November Rain" on magic mushrooms. Other highlights--if you could call them that--come in the form of the faux Caribbean jam "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby," the spacey instrumental centerpiece "Tsuxiit," and the frankly convoluted prog-rock-goes-hip-hop of "Where There's A Whale, There's A Whalebone." Warning: They Might Be Giants sound rational in comparison. --Aidin Vaziri
Islands   Format: Audio CD
{"Is Discontinued By Manufacturer": "No", "Product Dimensions": "5.5 x 0.2 x 5 inches; 1.92 Ounces", "Manufacturer": "Equator", "Date First Available": "July 25, 2006", "Label": "Equator", "Number of discs": "1"}