Islands : "And That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs"

 This project is 20 years into their existence. I appreciate the quirky take on pop music that bears little resemblance to the pop music you hear on the radio. The plaintive vocals of Nick Thorburn carry the kind of emotional malaise that makes me think of a person who present to the world as happy person, but they have been off their meds for sometime. The depression is a muted color when it comes to both the lyrical themes and the delivery of these themes sonically. I would not call this a dark album, but Bauhaus and Joy Division are also two of my favorite bands so the almost Taylor Swift like hushed intensity to the vocals of "'Headlines" feels pretty damn up beat to my ears. Even when he claims things have him so down might order a hearse , there is a skip in the song's step. 

The vocals are produced in a pretty inventive manner that stacks up more closely to what today's pop stars do, though Thornburn keeps things in a comfortable midrange. He does not belt anything out with soul or power, but makes wise choices in where he places his voice. These songs are catchy without taking the hooks into a sugar coated land of glee. The arrangements are pretty simple most drone of the same musical theme. This formula does not feel as obvious until "Hard to Argue". It feels like these are songs made to smoke a joint to while taking an afternoon stroll though the suburbs of San Diego. The first sonically experimental moment comes by way of "Pelican". One it finds the groove of the verse things are not that odd. 

"Driven Snow" finds them going a more Death Cab For Cutie route when it comes to ballads. This is not as interesting as the stoned strolls through the San Diego suburbs. "Bite My Tongue' finds some of the luster waning as the album begins to find the slowed tempos , beginning to all sound the same. There is some decent guitar work in play at this point. Yet the continue further down this path with "Violet" . The vocals remain at the same fragile musing. Thankfully they break themselves out of this trajectory with "Too Far Gone". The sleepy feel of the vocals glides over an angular pattern to find things sounding more inspired. There are touches of jazz and a more organic feel to the last song that benefits from things being broken up as things evolve into a sax crying out in the background . I will give this album an 8.5 as it runs out of gas midway into things but redeems itself with the last two songs, so very strong moments and captures a great easy feel.