Islands Recent News

ISLANDS’ In-store Monday @ Waterloo Austin

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

Islands are playing an in-store at Waterloo in Austin on 6/23 @ 5 PM. Do't miss it! See below for details.

Waterloo
Monday 6/23 @ 5 pm
600-A N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78703

Islands on NPR's World Cafe on June 19th

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

Check out Islands on NPR's World Cafe on Thursday, June 19, 2008.

National Public Radio's World Cafe with host David Dye can be heard on nearly 200 stations nationwide. You can find your local station by going to website: http://worldcafe.org

Or you can listen online to the WXPN/Philadelphia stream from 2pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time by going to: http://xpn.org/listen_live/listen.php

Islands' Interview and Stream Featured on Imeem.com

Mon, 26 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

Check out this hilarious interview with Nick and Aaron from Islands. The guys introduce each song from their latest album, Arm's Way. Go to: Imeem.com to listen.

Islands' Nick Thorburn Runs a Benevolent Dictatorship in the Studio

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

by Jonah Flicker
SPINNER.COM

"I see myself as the benevolent dictator," says Islands' Nick Thorburn, laughing, in describing his role as the band's principal songwriter. "I rule with a sweet thumb, a soft fist." Spinner caught up with the frontman a few days before the release of the Canadian group's second album and first for Anti- Records, 'Arm's Way.' But while he may be the dominant voice in the band, Thorburn takes pride in Islands' collaborative working method. "I don't tell people what they should be playing ... If I have an idea, I'll strongly suggest it, but everyone has a voice in this band. I think that's what makes it so special."

The recording of 'Arm's Way' differed from Islands' debut in that it benefited from more time, a little more money and a crew of professionals working to "make everything sound as good as it should," according to Thorburn. "We labored over [arrangements] for months and months and made sure every note was in the right place." The result is a lilting pop record lined with influences ranging from Caribbean, African, electro and cinematic. Thorburn also says that he's taking his role in music more seriously these days, while retaining the sense of humor he honed with his previous band the Unicorns. "I've owned up to my role as a musician," he says. "I'm a taskmaster, and everyone in the band has a certain amount of discipline, but I also realize that this is the greatest job we could possibly have."

In addition to the new record and upcoming tour, Thorburn is keeping busy with a variety of other projects in various stages of development, including Human Highway (a collaboration with fellow Canadian Jim Guthrie), Juiced Elfers (featuring Les Savy Fav's Syd Butler) and his hip-hop project, Th' Corn Gangg. He also claims to have at least 40 Islands songs on reserve. But such prolificacy seems only natural to him. "The songs that I write are like an extension of my being, an appendage," he explains. "There's always gonna be songs. Some will fit into the Islands sound and some won't. Some might make it on the record and some might end up as b-sides or songs that never appear again, like stillborn babies. I got lots of plans. I wanna keep making music for a long time."

See ISLANDS Live In Toronto

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

Islands will be playing a show for MTV Live on May 29th at The Masonic Temple. For free tickets call 1-888-491-6888 or email liveaudience@mtv.ca. Click here for more info.

New album, Arm's Way, out May 20th!

Islands' live in-studio session on KUCI

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

Check out Islands' live in-studio session FRIDAY MAY 9TH 3-5pm on MYSTERIOUS RAINBOW on KUCI 88.9fm in Irvine.

Streaming everywhere at www.kuci.org.

Watch Man Man, DeVotchKa, and Islands Live At Coachella!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

Can't make it to Coachella this year? Then make sure to head over to the ATT Blue Room where you can watch free live webcast of all ANTI artists (DeVotchKa, Islands, Man Man) playing Coachella this weekend. Just go to: http://attblueroom.com/home/index.php

*Also, 3 archived full songs from artist sets available for free on cell phones in USA on Cingular Wireless and European Union on Vodaphone Wireless. Check with your carrier for details.

Islands Available on iTunes Today, Including Beck Cover

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

Two songs off of Islands’ upcoming Arm’s Way were made available on iTunes today: “The Arm” and a cover of Beck’s “Cyanide Breath Mint,” repurposed here as simply “Cyanide Breath.” Get ‘em both for a measly $.99.

Arm’s Way, out May 20th!

Islands Release New Webisode

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

Islands have released a new video to preview the track "Vertigo (If It's A Crime)" off their upcoming album, Arm's Way.

Click here to check it out on the ANTI YouTube Channel.

Arm's Way, out May 20th!

Islands Announce New Album, Tracklist, and Tour

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

No band is an island, but that doesn't exclude the plural. Like the strength in numbers implied by their name, Islands will bring people together throughout North America on tour this spring and summer.

Nick Thorburn and co. are out on the road in support of the band's forthcoming sophomore album, Arm's Way, out May 20 in North America via Anti-. That album now has a tracklist, including a song called "Pieces of You". Unfortunately, that title has been used before. -pitchforkmedia

Click here to go to pitchfork for the details.