Return To The Sea - Islands
Return To The Sea Image
Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 40 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The debut disc for the new band from former Unicorns members Nick Diamonds and J'aime Tambeur includes appearances from members of Royal City, Wolf Parade and Arcade Fire.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. All Music Guide
    90
    A rich, exciting, and emotionally deep sounding album that carries on the freewheeling spirit and sound of the Unicorns as well as that of the Elephant 6 bands of the late '90s.
  2. cokemachineglow
    80
    Those who felt like maybe they were starting to get Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? only to be left out by Unicorns’ sudden dissolution should be reassured that Return to the Sea is a more rooted and confident effort.
  3. Under The Radar
    80
    Islands have made a grand entrance into the indie-rock world. [Summer 2006, p.90]
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  4. Q Magazine
    60
    At times Return To The Sea can be too clever for its own good. But there's also an ambition here that's hard to knock. [May 2006, p.126]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. [Anonymous]
    10
    One of the best this year. A constantly fun and interesting listen. "Swans (Life After Death)" is one of the best songs this year.
  2. JasonL
    8
    The melody to track 4 is so close to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" it's distracting...you can literally sing along to "We Didn't Start the Fire" and it matches almost perfectly. Track 10 sucks. All subtle build-up with absolutely no payoff. But all in all, this is a really good album. I find some of the tracks to be terrific, many are good, a few are disappointing.… Expand
  3. Kdevilh
    6
    A masterful and perhaps unwitting cover of some of Billy Joel's greatest melodies... Rough Gem completely captures (if not out and out borrows) "we didn't start the fire." i… Expand
  4. ChrisW
    4
    A Little too adventurous, it's like they are trying too hard to find their niche. Track #10 is horrible! Others pass by questioning... Why?

See all 31 User Reviews

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