Offbeat piano-driven indie pop, a lot less zany than usual for these guys. Fourth record from Islands, piloted by ex-Unicorns frontman Nick Diamonds (full disclosure: I have such a crush). This album surprised me: lots of sweet lilty Hawaii-vibe tracks, shuffling beats, clear and gimmick-less vox, very straightforward and unassuming and spare. My faves are the pop tracks, but stray from the stars for damn fine acoustic island crooners. This is a confessional / breakup record released on Valentine's Day. I love breakup records more than almost anything, don't you?

try: 2, 5, 6, 3
no FCCs

1. super pretty. shuffling brushed drums, breezy weekend morning music. the lyrics are unbelievable: "you refuse to let me lose you. only when i sleep i do."
*2. i'm a little in love with this song. haunting piano ballad with spare electric accents and a simple aching melody that breaks into a rich melancholy chorus. everything about this track feels right. "nick if you ever learn it never shows."
*3. drumless rapid staccato piano intro, then: full on piano pop, with a minor strut and occasional bashy breakdowns. "no one can tell a man how to use his hands." oh my.
4. relaxed island shuffle, clear electric, rim clicks. mellow, lazy.
*5. mid-fast handclappy stomping barn dance piano romp. fun as fuck, full sound. yes.
*6. sly slinky carnival organ, heavy hi-hat. dramatic pauses, great harmonies, 'ooh's. counterpoints "i miss my wife, i miss my best friend" with "i miss my home, i miss my own bed".
7. super exposed vox to start. then: old hawaii strum (cough 'kokomo'). 'la la's. chorus fills out with nice textured chords and full band.
8. unexpectedly gorgeous falsetto, just vox and a single acoustic guitar. apparently about buddy holly's widow, who used to have nightmares of being at the crash site. bonus: rhymes "pasture" with "past her".
9. swallowing creepster vox. slow, brushed drums, tambourine. twang effects, horror piano. fulfills the unicorns trope of turning a perfectly innocuous tune into something, well, vaguely unsettling.
10. starts with windswept noise and slow guitar. brassy wall of sound and able but forgettable melody. more background noise on this cut than on any other.
11. slow, brooding closer. downcycling guitar, organ. cool industrial-lite backdrop. moody and murky. "the ease with which i sleep tends to frighten me."