Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Islands is a 6 piece band founded in 2005 by The Unicorns co-founder/songwriter Nick Thorburn (often performing as "Nick Diamonds") and drummer J'Aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of The Unicorns as they teetered on the brink of breaking through, Islands' debut release entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies includes collaborations with members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. This debut picks up where The Unicorns left off and takes the music to new heights without departing from The Unicorns' unique if sometimes peculiar appeal.
Islands plays beautiful pop melodies, intertwined with elements of afro-pop, hip hop, and indie rock, among others. One of the main gimmicks of the band is the recorder brought over from The Unicorns, which is prominently featured in the song "Jogging Gorgeous Summer." Nick Diamonds rules over the band with an iron fist. Other members include: Patrice Agbokou, Aaron Harris, Alex Chow, Sebastian Chow, and Patrick Gregoire. Return To the Sea, their rookie effort, was released on April 4th, 2006 on the brand new label, Equator Records, and Rough Trade in the UK. Digital Distribution handled by Alpha Pup.
On May 20, 2008, Islands released its second album, Arm's Way, on Anti- Records.
On September 22, 2009 Islands released their third full length album, Vapours.
On February 14, 2012 Islands released their fourth full length album, A Sleep & A Forgetting.
On September 17, 2013 Islands released their fifth full length album, Ski Mask
On May 13, 2016 Islands released their sixth and seventh full length albums, Should I Remain Here, At Sea? and Taste.
Abominable Snow
Islands Lyrics
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We serve you instead
On a bed that's sweet to sleep forever in
Outer space
Track sasquatches
Through the snowy climes of Canada
Are you an upright bear?
Do you exist?
Everybody knows you can't hide in the snow
Everybody knows
You're so cold
You're so cold to me
Try like hell
Explode or renew in the carousel
Things don't change
Things don't change
Love everyone
As long as everyone's to blame
Space, space, space is the place
And the sun is fun, fun, fun
Severed body won't run
So take your sweet time
Frozen head's up in outer space
In a box
Will it crash back to earth
Crash back to earth
Or be brought back with moon rocks?
I think I spotted a yeti
Yet I didn't die
I'm not sure
Was it fur or was it a lie?
They're coming home
But my, how the tundra has grown
Since you've been gone
Everyone's gone
Bye, bye, bye, bye…
Rack of lamb of God
We serve you instead
On a bed that's sweet to sleep forever in
Outer space
Track sasquatches
Through the snowy climes of Canada
Are you an upright bear?
Are you even there?
Do you exist?
The opening lines of "Rack of lamb of God, We serve you instead, On a bed that's sweet to sleep forever in Outer space", from Islands' song "Abominable Snow", may suggest that the band is offering their devotion to God in a sarcastic or parodic way. They replace the traditional offering of a lamb rack to God with the suggestion of offering him/her/itself into soft oblivion, in outer space. The second verse takes on a more serious, almost philosophical connotation, with the singer or the singer asking "Are you an upright bear? Are you even there? Do you exist?" - this question could be a poignant summary - one that questions the order of things and the authority of supposed universal truths.
The chorus "Everybody knows you can't hide in the snow, Everybody knows You're so cold, You're so cold to me" provides a glimpse of the artist's perception and attitude towards society, with the repeated word 'everybody' insinuating the broad consensus that is only an illusion. The snow or coldness symbolizes something that is impossible to escape from or to change, as per the line, "Things don't change, Love everyone, As long as everyone's to blame."
Line by Line Meaning
Rack of lamb of God
We offer our best to a higher power
We serve you instead
We give ourselves over to serve this higher power
On a bed that's sweet to sleep forever in
Our goal is to achieve everlasting rest and peace
Outer space
A metaphor for the unknown and limitless potential of the future
Track sasquatches
Searching for the truth about the unknown and the mythic
Through the snowy climes of Canada
The challenging, isolating, and unforgiving territory of the north is where we seek answers
Are you an upright bear?
Who are you exactly? We're trying to discern friend from foe, truth from lies
Are you even there?
We're asking if there's anyone out there or if we're just talking to ourselves
Do you exist?
Is there really something beyond what we already know?
Everybody knows you can't hide in the snow
The truth will always reveal itself- concealment is temporary
You're so cold
The unknown may be harsh, unforgiving or indifferent to our presence
You're so cold to me
The emotion felt while facing the unknown or unforeseen
Try like hell
We must give our all, striving to explore and understand
Explode or renew in the carousel
Either we break through, or find ourselves back where we started, having gained no new ground
Things don't change
The future may seem bleak, and progress is slow
Love everyone
Despite our hardships and struggles, we should offer compassion and kindness to others
As long as everyone's to blame
However, our progress is hindered by our blaming others for our challenges or misfortunes
Space, space, space is the place
The unknown always lies ahead, and we must keep exploring
And the sun is fun, fun, fun
With the unknown, there is hope, excitement, and opportunity
Severed body won't run
We can't escape ourselves, and must face our challenges head on
So take your sweet time
Progress is slow, but we mustn't lose sight of our goals
Frozen head's up in outer space
There may be ways to break free from our constraints, and reach new heights, but it will be a difficult journey
In a box
We may feel trapped, but there may be a way to escape our confines
Will it crash back to earth
Our endeavors may fail right at the moment of triumph
Or be brought back with moon rocks?
However, there may be great rewards that come about as a result of our efforts
I think I spotted a yeti
We may have stumbled upon something amazing, but we're not sure yet
Yet I didn't die
We may not have fully understood what was happening or what we were encountering, but we survived regardless
I'm not sure
There's still so much we don't know or understand
Was it fur or was it a lie?
Is what we're seeing genuine, or simply an illusion?
They're coming home
Return after a long trip
But my, how the tundra has grown
Return to a place that has changed or progressed in your absence
Since you've been gone
It's been so long since you were last here
Bye, bye, bye, bye…
But now our journey has ended and we must say goodbye
Contributed by Nathan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.