Islands "Joy"
Islands' songwriter Nick Diamonds has always had a knack for happy songs about depressing topics. Nearly every Unicorns song smuggled death anxiety into bouncy indie-pop tunes, and Return to the Sea's standout single "Rough Gem" was the toe-tappin'est exploration of the cruel diamond trade this side of Kanye West's. So when the band steps forth and briefly posts a new song on MySpace simply titled "Joy," the keen observer has to know that something is afoot. Indeed, "Joy" is a peppy silver lining ode to the undiluted happiness that comes with being truly, deeply insane. Nothing like a giddy call and response to spotlight the advantages of mental illness.
Though the tight bass backbone and pseudo classical synth lines here would have been welcome on Islands' debut, the hoedown guitar implies a slightly new flavor of electicism, moving away from that album's imprecise world-pop ambitions. The track doesn't seem committed to its twang, however, more aptly recalling times when early Stones or Beatles songs would superficially pay homage to romanticized Americana. That Diamonds' token textural shifts don't speak to a deeper than deep devotion to the sounds he borrows is of no consequence, really. This sub-three-minute jaunt is feather light and defiantly fun, although it might evaporate from your head as soon as the run time has elapsed.