I love this record. I love the track listing and the band's decision to harness and sound and feel that reminded me of Talk Talk, the Cure and Adult. when I listened to it in the dark.

My admiration for Future Islands goes back a couple of years now... they released an album called On the Water in 2011 that completely took me by surprise. I remember listening to the song Balance off that album and wondered how in the fuck would an entire room of people dance to that?

I remember reading something at the end of 2013 that the band was holed up recording a new record for 2014 and I made a reminder to look for it every week in the New Release bin...

Well a funny little thing happened when they got a ton of attention for a performance at Coachella and the Late Show with David Letterman. They fucking killed it....

The band that I kinda imagined performing together on stage and Samuel T. Herring, emoting "controlled mosh" in a form of dance that completely matched what I thought it should look like in my head.

I honestly can't say enough about this album. Like the War on Drugs album, I think it will be looked back on as a landmark release for 2014.

Recommended listens:

In 2011, I discovered a small band that by the name of Future Islands and listed their album On the Water as my favorite release of the year.

I had heard some rumors at the end of 2013 that their new album "Singles" would be something to keep an eye out for. The album dropped a few weeks ago and it's been a staple of sorts in my listening rotation.

I managed to somehow get their upcoming Austin Show (Mohawk, April 23rd) confused with another show that I'm catching on the 22nd (Manchester Orchestra/Kevin Devine) and I passed up on getting tickets.

Fast forward a few weeks... they have a monstrous performance on Letterman and they killed it at Coachella last weekend. They're now *the band* to catch live and I'm seriously considering paying 80 dollars on Stubhub to see them perform on Wednesday.

I spent a good part of my morning looking at #futureisland tags on Instagram and all I want to do right now is listen to this album between now and Wednesday and be in attendance for what I think will be one of the best shows of 2014.

But enough about the show on Wednesday, the thing that has surprised me most about the album Singles is how freakishly danceable it is. That and the lead vocalist is so freakishly emotive that I can't have this album on in the background and not give it my full attention.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of 2014. Please seek it out!

Stand Out Tracks