The Mary OnettesIslands
Labrador Records [2009]
Fire Note Says: More flashback 80's vibe with plenty of emotion attached.
Album Review:
The Mary Onettes sophomore record Islands is an example of hard work done twice. The album had to be re-recorded from scratch after lead singer Philip Ekström's hard drive, with all his music, was stolen from his car and his backup hard drive failed due to a power surge at home. Lucky for the band that the ten songs found here are so personal that recall came more naturally then if they were written on the back of a napkin. It is this emotional attachment that completely sets the tone on Islands. The record is full of complex chords, deep lyrics, alternative 80's keyboards and a little bit of feedback. Ekström has one of those voices that sounds totally unnerved as he croons about heartbreak and death, although Islands suffers a bit from repetitive tempos. Islands is not the pick me up album of the year but if you are feeling a bit retro in today's indie market then The Mary Onettes can fill your void instantly. It is this Echo & Bunnymen meets Interpol blend that keeps this record relevant, although next time out I think the band should offer a few more themes as well as shaking up the pace to really hit a home run.
Key Tracks: "Puzzles", "Century", "Dare"
Bands With Similar Fire:
Interpol
The Ocean Blue
New Order
The Mary Onettes: The Mary Onettes [Fire Note Review 5/29/07]
Official Mary Onettes Website
The Mary Onettes MySpace
The Mary Onettes Info [Allmusic]
Labrador Records
-Reviewed by Reece Michael
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