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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
When we were young we all had the same idea. Hugging our favourite records to our chests, we thought that being in a band would be the best. Equally, we dreamed that even better would be the chance to be in our favourite bands. The Ekström brothers at the heart The Mary Onettes made tentative steps along this very route, but instead of now standing side by side with their heroes they stuck with sounding like them.
Their home in Sweden must be like a time capsule, faded pictures of Ian Brown on the walls, aborted hairspray homages to Robert Smith fill the air. Naturally therefore, their Islands is full of anthemic indie. It swaggers, it glowers and happily it's mostly all pre-Britpop. Laden with that late 80s-early 90s echo and ripe indie jangle, Islands houses killer tracks and dreamy filler that sound nostalgic in such a way as to seem always to have been a part of that era.
The opener "Puzzles" lunges into The Cure catalogue circa "Hanging Garden" with velvety ease, "The Disappearance Of My Youth" even witnesses lyrics about "pictures of you". Just as Surfer Blood have been doing, and just like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart succeeded with, "Dare" is full of fragile, true indie optimism laced through with Morrisey's dark pop heart. It's warm results are pleasing enough to melt the harshest Swedish winter. "Once I Was Pretty" is sadly less effective, starting like a banking commercial and finishing in wallpaperish anonymity, it reminds us exactly why early Suede harmonies are no longer hot.
When "Cry For Love" breaks from wallowing in self-pity it borrows the twinkling swelling from Joy Division's "Atmosphere", whereas "God Knows I Had Plans" is a straight musical lift from the second Stone Roses album, the echo-y vocal somewhere closer to Brett Anderson. "Symmetry" is altogether beefier, driven by a determined synth-line and "Century" is back in cahoots with "Without You"-period Cure. Its soaring chorus pitches for and succeeds in hitting the then much-sought after indie anthem. "Bricks" repeats this same trick.
Islands is a melancholic collection without a knockout punch. It pleases, charms and beguiles throughout. Its melodies are a joy, its songcraft worth the entrance fee. But by being so squarely set in nostalgia, much of Islands unfortunately already feels forgotten.
Their home in Sweden must be like a time capsule, faded pictures of Ian Brown on the walls, aborted hairspray homages to Robert Smith fill the air. Naturally therefore, their Islands is full of anthemic indie. It swaggers, it glowers and happily it's mostly all pre-Britpop. Laden with that late 80s-early 90s echo and ripe indie jangle, Islands houses killer tracks and dreamy filler that sound nostalgic in such a way as to seem always to have been a part of that era.
The opener "Puzzles" lunges into The Cure catalogue circa "Hanging Garden" with velvety ease, "The Disappearance Of My Youth" even witnesses lyrics about "pictures of you". Just as Surfer Blood have been doing, and just like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart succeeded with, "Dare" is full of fragile, true indie optimism laced through with Morrisey's dark pop heart. It's warm results are pleasing enough to melt the harshest Swedish winter. "Once I Was Pretty" is sadly less effective, starting like a banking commercial and finishing in wallpaperish anonymity, it reminds us exactly why early Suede harmonies are no longer hot.
When "Cry For Love" breaks from wallowing in self-pity it borrows the twinkling swelling from Joy Division's "Atmosphere", whereas "God Knows I Had Plans" is a straight musical lift from the second Stone Roses album, the echo-y vocal somewhere closer to Brett Anderson. "Symmetry" is altogether beefier, driven by a determined synth-line and "Century" is back in cahoots with "Without You"-period Cure. Its soaring chorus pitches for and succeeds in hitting the then much-sought after indie anthem. "Bricks" repeats this same trick.
Islands is a melancholic collection without a knockout punch. It pleases, charms and beguiles throughout. Its melodies are a joy, its songcraft worth the entrance fee. But by being so squarely set in nostalgia, much of Islands unfortunately already feels forgotten.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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3 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Forget the meatballs!!!!!!!!!
5 Dec 2009
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
And I thought the Swedes were only famous for their meatballs! I am truly amazed at the talent in this group! A perfect sound in my ears. I have downloaded both albums and I will tell you this there is not one song on either album that lags. I no longer listen to local radio stations because, well they SUCK! They dont play this type of music. I hope you guys come to the Dallas area because I will definately come see you and I rarely go to concerts. Keep up the good work!!!!!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
An impressive sophomore album
30 Jan 2010
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Islands is a fantastic follow-up to the Mary Onettes' self-titled debut. Though their first effort was outstanding and filled with solid pop songs that stood out on their own, this record is more cohesive, dense and works better as a whole album. The synth strings of the opening track, "Puzzles," are fantastically stunning, and are the perfect intro to this 80's-drenched romantic pop album. It has a moody feel, what with all the 80's synths and vocals reminiscent of Ian McCullogh and Robert Smith, but not the kind of moody that will bring the listener down. It is the perfect soundtrack to a late autumn.
I can't get enough of this band...
31 Jan 2011
The Mary Onettes have recently become one of my top favorite bands, this record being the reason why. If you like early 80's Post-Punk and "Shoegaze" music like The Cure, Joy Division, and The Chameleons, then you will absolutely fall in love with The Onettes. On both this record and their self-titled debut, they've brought back that sound in all it's dark, romantic glory.
I've been sitting here trying to pick a favorite track from the album and I'm struggling because they're all literally that good, it's definitely a 'No Filler' album that will not disappoint.
I've been sitting here trying to pick a favorite track from the album and I'm struggling because they're all literally that good, it's definitely a 'No Filler' album that will not disappoint.
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