Review: Future Islands - Singles
[4AD; 2014]
Rating: 7.5/10
By Sammi Nelson, Contributor
Key Tracks: “Seasons (Waiting On You),” “Back in the Tall Grass,” “Fall From Grace”
As a synth-pop band with a heavy ‘80s sound and deep vocals, Future Islands has created a colorfully poetic sound with their latest album Singles.
While the band is based in Baltimore, MD, the three members originally met at East Carolina University, where they and two others were part of a band called Art Lord & the Self-Portraits. A year after the band split in 2005, Samuel T. Herring, Gerrit Welmers and William Cashion formed Future Islands.
The album has a beach feel, as does quite a bit of Future Islands’ music. Herring is the vocalist of the group, whose deeply rich voice dips and croons along with the electro-beats of the music. More specifically, his voice sounds like a combination of Morrissey and Tom Waits--a strange but extremely attractive mixture.
Listeners can expect to nod their heads along to the lulling sound and soulful lyrics. The album features several upbeat, colorful tracks that are perfect for dancing as well as slower tunes that paint darker conceptual shades with their sounds. The album is great for a picturesque drive with friends during a warm evening, windows down and everything.
The single off of Singles is “Seasons (Waiting For You),” which Future Islands happened to play on The Late Show with David Letterman. The band’s performance on the late-night talk show created many expectations for the band’s newest album, which they delivered faithfully.
Future Islands also feature samples in their music of worldly sounds. In “Back in the Tall Grass,” they transition out of the song and into the next song, “A Song for Our Grandfathers,” with the chirping sound of spring peepers, perfect for this time of the year.
Another notable track is “Fall From Grace,” which is one of the most powerful songs on the album. It has a slow tempo with melancholic notes that will fill the airwaves. Herring’s vocals are immaculate in the track, where he quickly switches from his deep crooning to a striking growl. The song accurately depicts its message and presents quite the existentialist imagery.
Future Islands’ Singles will quickly become a favorite among fans of the band and new listeners as well. It meshes together a blend of all sorts of colors with its music; some vibrant, others bleak.
