Montreal-based rock band Islands’ (frontman Nick Thorburn, drummer Adam Halferty, guitarist Geordie Gordon, and bassist Evan Gordon) new album, Islomania (via Royal Mountain Records), is an ode to everything great and everything that, honestly, we’ve been missing in our world the past year and a half. The 10-track project expresses all of the hidden emotions that underlie those great moments. What’s captured? The thrilling sensation of those moments’ impending return.
The album can’t help but make the listener feel inextricably excited about nothing in particular, or maybe excited about everything to come. Maybe it’s summertime. Maybe it’s beginning to leave the abyss of the pandemic and entering a new world. Maybe it’s none or all of the above. Either way, Islomania discusses the moments that a lot of us can relate to such as love and intimate moments. The lyrics that explore these moments examine a deeper level of excitement as well as fresh anticipation in their upbeat tunes. The music feels like life is changing… and isn’t it?
While the album’s opener and title track, “Islomania”, presents some of the less impressive arrangements of the project, it does serve as a smooth introduction of the feel-good bliss to come.
The album kicks into high drive on the next two tracks, “(We Like To) Do It with the Lights On” and “Carpenter”. The former is a song that improves with every listen, encouraging the listener to get up out of their seat and dance. Frontman Nicholas Thorburn told Apple Music that the song reflects the idea that, “instead of living in the darkness, let’s get close, let’s get vulnerable, let’s look at each other and see each other in these potentially awkward moments.” This well captures the essence Islands is attempting to convey in this album; an urge to make the most of time, especially in its imperfection. “Carpenter”’s rousing melodies and momentous build-ups can’t help but make you feel that exact way.
Around mid-album, the band builds up a beat and an energizing track, but as the beat settles in the listener focuses on the lyrics, eventually realizing that this isn’t the utter gay they were promised at the onset of the song, but maybe something even better.
“Set The Fairlight” was the last song created for the album. Its lyrics reflect the helpless isolation of the pandemic irrevocably wanting to reach out to those who you love. Islands deliver on their promise by giving the listeners another track that the listener can still deeply enjoy. Ultimately— being able to dance through the darkness.
The next song, “A Passionate Age”, is a sign for listeners. With lyrics such as “this is a sign” being whispered nearly 20 times throughout the course of the song, Islands is urging listeners to make sure they’re not getting caught up in themselves, that they’re getting out and experiencing the world around them. Islands is having fun with this song and it shows; the experimental vocals and buoyant tempo make this one of my favorite tracks on the album.
The closing track of the album, “Gore”, begins with an extremely promising guitar solo that gets you rather excited for the upbeat track to come. Just like that, the promise is no longer a promise, and a rather dim, cynical song is birthed. But maybe that’s the point. The song is about being let down, disappointed, frustrated at the world that’s not working out the way you dreamed it one day could. The band sings, “if you believe the verse, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.” At that moment, the listener finds understanding in that underscored bitterness.
Overall, this album has done its job and done it well. It gave listeners something happy, something to revel in its joy, and something to dance to. Despite everything that we can be frustrated with, Islands show listeners that better times are coming.
Islands’ new album, Islomania is available where all music is streamed including Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. To purchase the album visit Bandcamp.
What did you think of the album? Be sure to let us know below in the comment section. Want more Islands? Connect with the band across your favorite social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
