Meet Future Islands Posted by Lucas G. on 03/19/14 | Filed under Non Hip-Hop, Meet, Future Islands

You would think that working from home would allow me to watch TV all the time, but in reality, unless it's a sports event or "True Detective", I never watch live television. Sure, my TV is pretty much always on, but it's usually stuck on "SportsCenter" on mute; when I write I prefer music to TV. The other day, in a rare, rare I found myself watching "Letterman" as opposed to the typical Pac-12 basketball game that I don't care about, but is the only thing on at 11:30 on a Tuesday.

I don't want to say it was meant to be, but it totally was because I got there right in time to see one of the most intriguing live TV performances I have seen since Ashley Simpson on SNL. Meet the Future Islands.

Now I get for a first impression you might be a little weirded out, and rightfully so, but think about this. Times you have performed on Letterman? Zero (probably). Times this weird guy has? One, and judging by Letterman's reaction, I'd say they will be back again. Now I consider myself a pretty weird guy, and even for me this was unconventional, I wasn't quite sure how to feel, but I knew I needed to watch it again, and again, and again. After every view, I slowly found myself less thinking this was weird and instead thinking it was dope. I'd rather have the lead singer seem a little "off" than sit there and have no emotion whatsoever. If it weren't for frontman Samuel T. Herring's almost theatrical performance, I probably wouldn't be in a position to write this so, at the very least it gets people talking. Don't think they are just this crazy frontman, The Future Island's have a very original, refreshing sound that is simplistic, but heartfelt and will really suck you in if you aren't careful.

Trying to define them by genre is damn near impossible, but if I had do go with something I'd put them in the ever-popular, indie rock ,80's splashed, new wave synth-pop with a dash of punk (judging from the live performance and because punk can be pretty much anything). I love how relatively simple their stuff is but it still has a powerful sound which really cuts to your core; it''s an understated power. Herrings vocals are perfect for the sound. He is powerful, growling, but still has this pained, almost haunted, flavor which really gives the Future Islands their edge.

I haven't listen to much of their old stuff, so I can't speak to their history, but their new album, Singles, available on NPR's First Listen, is very compelling. I am only a few listens through and I'm hooked. Granted, it's very out of the ordinary and took some getting used to, but I'm really glad I stuck with it;  I went from being a curious observer to a fan. Between traveling, grocery shopping, and workouts, I was in dire need of something new and different to get hooked on  and I think Future Islands is it.

From one hip-hop head to another, give Future Islands a fair shake and I think you'll find they will stick with you like herpes...or glitter. Maybe both. 

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