Islands

Formed by two former members of The Unicorns in 2004, Islands is a rockband from Montreal that makes upbeat indie tunes with art rock qualities. Withguest appearances including members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parades, the band's2005 debut album Return to the Sea earned immediate acclaim for itssprawling sound. For the 2009 record, Vapours, Islands front man NickThorburn dismantled the band on the previous effort Arm's Way in orderto capture a fresh sound. The experiment proved successful, as Vapours isperhaps the most renowned of Islands' records with Thorburn's flamboyant vocalrange on display over a soundscape of synthesizers and electronic drums.