My recommendations 2006:Return to the Sea by Islands

Islands: Return to the Sea
Equator 4/4/2006

Available at Emusic

In the aftermath of The Unicorns' baleful and silly breakup, one couldn't have been blamed for thinking that the members' individual careers were over. One bizarre news story after another emerged about their questionable decisions, such as Nick Diamonds' and J'aime Tambeur's announcement that they were making a foray into hip-hop as Th' Corn Gangg. And while it was well received, The Unicorns' debut, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?, was so ramshackle it gave little hope of longevity. In spite of all indications to the contrary, Diamonds' and Tambeur's debut as Islands, Return to the Sea, establishes both as enduring presences in indie rock that are likely to hand around a while, in one form or another. Return to the Sea is every bit as strange as The Unicorns' album, but nowhere near as childish or silly. Who Will Cut Our Hair was not a fluke; Diamonds and Tambeur have shown they are capable of controlling their creativity. Though Tambeur has already left the band, Diamonds insists that "Islands are forever." Let's hope so.