Future Islands "Singles"

I had such high hopes for this when I read about it on a critic's page and saw legendary label 4AD in charge.  New Wave/80's synth-heavy with a flash of electric guitar here and there, but it was the voice at the forefront.  Initially it made me think of Martin Fry of ABC fame but repeated play morphed it into Men Without Hats territory........you know, one-hit-wonder. 

Believe me when I tell you I did zero research on this before going through the requisite three spins.  Each time I started it I liked the opening track but grew more and more weary of this guy's over-the-top vocal theatrics.  My mind's eye pictured an outrageous front man with the band silhouetted in the shadows playing their instruments ably and stoically.  Boy, I hit that one on the head....



There are nearly 2.2 MILLION views of this clip.  Think the guy knows Jack Black?  Dave looked genuinely entertained by the antics.  This is the only keeper as far as I'm concerned and the studio version reaps benefits from one of those power chord guitar inserts I mentioned earlier.  Along with all the keyboards are some real strings and horns, not synthesized faux ones, but they don't help.  Here is another live performance but it's in a radio studio and one of the more down tempo tracks...



There, there, now...wasn't that nice?  I hope you catch the sarcasm...

What I missed was my supposition of an English band based on the 4AD connection.  Wayyyyyyyyyyy wrong.........they were art students from North Carolina!  So I'm not shocked to see the record has had its best showing in the UK and Ireland with a combined dozen weeks on the charts.  It debuted domestically at #40 on the Top 200 and two weeks later was gone.

Didn't I mention "one-hit wonder?"