Singles is the fourth studio album by American synthpop band Future Islands, released on March 24, 2014 through 4AD Records. The album's lead single "Seasons (Waiting on You)" was picked as the best track of 2014 by NME, Pitchfork Media and Spin. Singles received acclaim from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 82, based on 32 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".
Another great addition of a band I had no idea of before this… I really liked the songs and the lead singer’s somewhat unusual voice. The more I listen the more I really like!
You must see the lead singer pour every fiber of his being into each and every song while performing live to truly appreciate the greatness of this band. And to realize that he does this night after night while on tour is simply astonishing. If you thought there was no true passion left in indie rock, look no further. Absolutely deserves a place on the official list.
Future Islands makes 1980s synth pop with an very expressive singer. When you listen to an individual song, it sounds pleasing ,not impressive or very distinctive from other synth pop. When listening to a full album each song is similar and it gets a bit boring.
I love this band so much. Discovered them in January of this year. Their newest album is my favorite but I will co-sign any opportunity to listen
Synth pop lives! Good synth pop! Yay!
I’ve been a fan of this band for a while but hadn’t listened to this LP straight through. I’ve always enjoyed how unique their sound is, a heady mix of synth and prominent bass underscored by Herring’s passionate vocals. People here are going to complain about the latter, but the man just genuinely loves performing – saw them live last year and he clearly lives to sing and bare his heart to others. It’s emotionally honest and refreshing, some authentic artistry in an increasingly cynical and profit-driven music industry. Nobody is making the exuberant yet melancholy-tinged tracks like these guys, and I hope they continue for a good while. An absolute crime one of their LPs wasn’t on the original 1001, seems like it would be up Dimery’s alley.
Refreshing; ever so slightly offbeat but also poppy. Enjoyable enough but not ground breaking. I could see myself listening to this again sometime. Not a fan of the cover, though.
I thought this was perfectly enjoyable to listen to and actually wouldn't mind if we had more music in this vein in the current pop landscape. But the thing is, as someone who lived through synth-pop the first time around, it's hard not to be reminded of a ton of artists who were far better than this. Fave Songs: Spirit, Sun in the Morning, Seasons (Waiting on You), Light House
Great example modern synth pop album.
"Synth pop" - enjoyed that, was something a bit different
It’s great, not all songs match up to the singles though
Fell in love with Future Islands at the time of their extraordinary second album released in 2010, *In Evening Air* -- which no one talks about now, unfortunately. Saw them play live back then (great show -- Samuel T. Herring has a magnetic aura onstage), and I was even lucky enough to interview them for a local radio (very nice fellows). Being good at what they do, Future Islands have dug the same type of groove since that time. Including with *Singles*, arguably their breakout album. The thing is, I find the songs in it slightly less striking and memorable than in *In Evening Air*, and the album as a whole feels less intense and impactful for me. Also, Future Islands' artistry has always questioned the line between indie elegance and hackneyed pop cheesiness, and for me they straddle that line a little too clearly on cuts such as "Doves" and "Back In The Tall Grass". The rest is pretty good, admittedly. But is it "essential"? Of course, my own personal history with the Baltimore band is influencing this assessment. Maybe indeed I'm a little picky with *Singles* because this record was not the one I started with. Some acts never really change their game -- they're happy doing what they do from one album to the next, only evolving very slowly -- and as a result, the first LP of theirs you listen to often end up being the one you have the fondest memories of. It's the same old story that can apply to many bands and artists. So under that light, I'll still give quite a good grade to this album. One thing though: please check out *In Evening Air* as well. Maybe I'm "objectively" right to prefer it, maybe I'm not. But I admit I would be very curious to know what other listeners who have never heard of Future Islands before think of this one. When you spin "Light House" in *Singles* and you know that earlier album, you can't help remembering "Tin Man", "Vireo's Eye", "Walking Through That Door", or "Long Flight". All of them better songs for me, and also catchier and more propulsive. So many thanks to the anonymous user who suggested Future Islands. Because it brought me to those gems again today. :) ---- 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ----- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 52 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 70 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 124 (including this one -- as you can already understand, it's gonna be another Future Islands album for me). --- Hey, Émile. Tu as déjà dû voir ma dernière réponse sous la review de *Young, Loud And Snotty* des Dead Boys ! J'essaie d'écrire la mienne bientôt
Pop, yet a bit mysterious. Dreamy, Fun album
Synthpop feels to me like something that resides firmly in the 80s and early 90s so I was dubious of this. But the vocal and percussive elements in this gave it a harder edge that seemed to plant it in its own century. I liked this, though I didn't manage to pull much out of the lyrics.
Finally the album with Pitchfork’s 2014 song of the year!!!! Neat synth-led pop
If never heard this group before. It's good! That dude's voice is a bit of a mismatch with the style? Maybe? I don't know. But I liked this.
A cool addition to my ever-growing collection of "Pretty generic but ultimately harmless synthpop with one very good single and some other stuff I've already forgotten about 5 minutes after listening". The pile's getting really big.
Singles starts well, very much emerges as bright and vibrant modern synthpop, then it gets dull pretty quickly. Doesn't come close to retaining the same energy as it starts with and finishes flat and disappointing. 2 on balance.
Not bad Can never beat king of sweden tho 4
I didn't really get this one. I like synthpop, but this didn't really do it for me. Also, dude seems like he's doing a David Bowie impression a lot of the time 3/5
Weird, Post-pop music for the tragically hip. I kept getting essence of Neutral Milk Hotel for some reason. Not my bag.
Different sound to what I expected
Synth-pop, new wave, indie pop. Ni fu ni fa.
I keep picturing Orson Welles singing these songs.
The single was there, and it's a keeper. But the rest of the album didn't follow through.