Future Islands - "On The Water"

Artist: Future Islands

Album: On The Water

Label: Thrill Jockey

Release Date: October 11, 2011

Review by: Sean Kayden

It was only a year and half ago when Baltimore natives, Future Islands released their sophomore album (first from independent record label Thrill Jockey), “In Evening Air”. Heavy on synths with a dash of dreamy and pop, Future Islands’ promising reintroduction earned them the much-deserved attention from critics and pending fans. There was something inconceivable about “In Evening Air” that somehow revealed Future Islands as a band hopefully pioneering the future of modern rock music. It was a scary notion to begin with, but after listening to “In Evening Air” everything pointed in that direction. As heartbreaking as it was earnest, the music that was being created simply had meaning. To those who listened and found higher purpose, I can tell you that it wasn’t a fluke because Future Islands are the real deal. Let me proudly introduce to you, “On The Water”, the successor to “In Evening Air” and one of the more inspiring albums of 2011.

Future Islands return with their third LP, “On The Water”, a carefully crafted and slow burning album that exudes love, lost, and life. Exploring these common themes may evidently be cliché in rock music, however make no mistake, Future Islands are everything, but ordinary. There is something mythical ingrained on this compilation. “On The Water” probes for the wonders of life’s mysteries by beginning with the past and looking into the future. There is so much beauty to be found if you let the album seep inside of you. It will carry you to another time and place, but remind you that the only way of moving forward is looking onward. Granted nostalgia has become a repetitious subject explored in today’s indie rock music, Future Islands still find a way to tug at your heart. You may have to warm up a bit to Samuel T. Herring’s crooning, Dracula type vocals. In time, I’m sure you will and when that happens, you’ll see the light. This is the same light that will guide you on your path of dreams, hopes, and desires. “On The Water”, “The Great Fire”, “Where I Found You” and “Give Us The Wind” drive the album into masterpiece territory. Dreamy, passionate, and perceptive, these songs will pull you in and frankly, never let you go. A rare and majestic feeling that shouldn’t be missed by anyone that’s a fan of this music persuasion.

There’s little not to admire about this stellar and grandiose effort Future Islands have pulled off. It’s shocking and truly not fair that a band of this magnitude will go undetected to the masses. The embracing of “On The Water” feels like a spiritual awakening in the process. It’s a deeply satisfying experience that will affect you as if you were starting all over. The album carries its heart on its sleeve and this heart is warm, compassionate and giving. The conquest over both life and love bleed through the veins of “On The Water”. Instead of saying life is merely nothing, it reminds you that life is something after all. It’s simply how you accept it that makes all the difference in the end. Deeply personal and heavily emotional, “On The Water” reminds us just how powerful music can be. While it will impact any listener in numerously different ways, one thing is for certain, you’ll be surprised of how deep it sinks into your mind, body, and most of all, soul. Future Islands also proves that mind, body, and soul are all super-connected. If you think otherwise, you haven’t listened to “On The Water”.

Key Tracks: “On The Water”, “The Great Fire”, “Where I Found You”, “Give Us The Wind”

Grade: 9 out of 10

Published on October 22nd, 2011 by Mountain Views News
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v05/htm/n43/p11.htm