Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146490 in Digital Music Album
• Released on: 2007-06-26
• Running time: 0 seconds

Customer Reviews

My favorite album since Arcade Fire's Funeral
This album really blew me away. I was expecting something good at least, considering the names dropped at filtermagazine (produced by two members of Broken Social Scene/Stars/The Dears/Metric, the second band signed to Equator which released the Islands album) but I really didn't expect this.

The entire album from beginning to end is fantastic, though the first half is more immediate and stronger overall with all of the first five tracks being fantastic - though Frantic stands out particularly - I'd say it's like a mix of Mates of State and Fiery Furnaces but slightly edgier. Either way, it got stuck in my head the first time I heard it and still won't go away...

The second half of the album is great as well but took me a couple more listens to get into with The Only Appalachian Cornfield and Rod Stewart being the standouts for me.

My favorite album since Arcade Fire's Funeral came out and yet another great Canadian indie band...I am definitely picking this up the day it comes out officially.

Favorite tracks: In the Valley, Frantic, Photo Corners, The Only Appalachian Cornfield, Rod Stewart

Bought it not knowing anything about the band...
A local record store was going out of business and I managed to pick this up for I think 2 dollars. I bought it based primarily on the artwork, and for 2 bucks I was willing to take a risk. I was actually very surprised on how much I would enjoy this. I've been listening to it very consistently for the last couple of weeks. They don't take themselves too seriously, in fact sometimes they remind me of a ska band. They're a culmination of folk music, indie rock, 70's rock with some ska sensibilities. For the most part they're upbeat and keep it light hearted. They're not entirely unique or original, but yet I can't really pin point bands I would compare them to. They have a lot of mainstream rock qualities as mentioned before(The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand) but I wouldn't throw them into that mix. It's a good listen, nothing extremely impressive but something keeps me coming back for more.

The hind hind legs of the Unicorns.
Being a Unicorns fan I came across this band during my Amazon adventures. (Amazon has become a very useful tool)

I was instantly drawn towards the first track. It opens with a twangy guitar beat and a cheeky whiny voice, reminiscent of the unicorns. I was ashamedly pleased. Quite frankly I wouldnt mind a band that sounds identical to the disbanded unicorns. But seconds later differences are revealed, as the song breaks stride into a heavy guitar solo. A multi-melodic epic song is unleashed. Weaving and turning, changing pace, shimmies... culminating in a highly charged rocker. Quite fantastic.

"In the Valley" continues the thumping sound, with a more "Franz Ferdinand" dance beat. However, the monotonous production style of the former is left in its dust, as the song transcends into expansive instrumental. Again, the feathers add dimension to a song by dropping everything and regrouping for the next verse. These guys go everywhere! The melodic changes are extremely engaging.

"I really like you" is oozing the charisma of the unicorns again, but at this point one overwhelming problem becomes apparent. The lyrical juice is bitter if not bland. Its either absurd or below par. It really takes away from the experience, specially on the vocal attentive tracks, including "midly decorated", "oh you shocked me". The one liners are so unintriguing that it hurts any cult appeal. All the more inflicting because this band has the ingredients to really pool a growing fan base.

The energy that flows through this band has a life of its own and its really enjoyable being suspended in it. Hopefully they can work on the lyrics. The next album should be a screamer!