Return To The Sea
by Islands
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. NOW Magazine
    60
    While the bouncy good-time foolery is charming enough in small doses, Islands' relentlessly giddy glee gets annoying awfully fast.
  2. 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]
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  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    50
    There are some redeeming qualities, but for every success there are one or two failures.

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Best Album of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 44
  3. Negative: 1 out of 44
  1. [Anonymous]
    Nov 9, 2006
    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. FlinchBot
    Sep 23, 2006
    10
    Album of the year so far.
  3. KevinM
    Sep 16, 2006
    9
    A pop masterpiece. This isn't the Unicorns back from the dead, Nick Diamond in a new project with a whole different mood, and sound than A pop masterpiece. This isn't the Unicorns back from the dead, Nick Diamond in a new project with a whole different mood, and sound than the Unicorns. This is a rich piece of work, it has probably the best pop song of the year (Rough Gem), a fantastic epic opener and some other great highlights such as "Don't Call me Whitney, Bobby", "Where There's A Whale There's A Whalebone", and "Bucky Little Wing". Definitely listen to this for some great organic pop and some great instrumentation. This album IS an adventure as someone else pointed out.… Full Review »
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