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Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

Posted by Vish Khanna on Nov 11, 2009

In honour of the Remembrance Day holiday, R3 brings you an encore presentation of this show. - Ed.

Aloha! What it is everyone? What it is. My Album of the Week is Vapours by Guelph/NYC/Los Angeles-based super band, Islands!

As you may know already, I'm a fan of Nick Thorburn's constantly changing vision for Islands. He's been the one constant in a band that has had a different line-up for every album since its inception. After the prog-rock grandeur of their last record, Arm's Way, it seemed as though Islands had reached an artistic peak in terms of scale and execution in rock music. So what was left to do? Well, if you're Thorburn, you tear it all down and find a new sound. Re-teaming with old Unicorns/Islands crony Jamie Thompson and recruiting Geordie and Evan Gordon of the Magic to join the fold, Islands are a hip-hop-influenced, electro-pop monster on Vapours, the most focused record in the band's wide-ranging discography.

About a month before Vapours was released, I had breakfast with Islands and asked Nick why his band always seems to be shifting members and sounds. Let's re-visit that moment with him on today's show, shall we?

Are you a fan of Islands? Have you had a chance to check out Vapours? Old or new, Canadian or otherwise, what is YOUR album of the week? Also, I met Jay-Z on Saturday.

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  1. MikeV
    01

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by MikeV

    Good Morning Vish and everyone else, well Islands I had been wondering when you would choose this album Vish and I guess there time has home. I have had a chance to listen to this album and I do like it. I too also like how the sound of Islands keeps changing.

    However, its not my album of the week. Instead I have to choose If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone by The Wooden Sky. It's just through and trhough a beautiful album that is a pleasure to listen to.

    I finally heard the Jay-Z interview on Q yesterday. I thought he had some very interesting things to say about the future of hip hop and its struggle to mature.

    Well that's it....uh...yep got nothing else.

     

  2. Ninja Burger
    02

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Ninja Burger

    Chad Vangaalen's "soft airplane" has been my album of the month! That album gets my brain pregnant. It keeps me sane and smiling after a long day of teaching.

     

  3. aaadamaa
    03

    I have headphones again!!!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by aaadamaa

    Now I can re-join the ranks of the musicly inclined.

  4. ej
    04

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by ej

    my album of the week in the new Tegan & Sara album Sainthood.  haven't stopped listening to it since i picked it up last week.

  5. tb3
    05

    What's floated my boat this week

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by tb3

    I've been listening to The Most Serene Republic's …And the ever expanding universe in lead up to their show tonight in London that kicks off their eastern tour. There is a reason that they were the first band not directly tied in to the Broken Social Scene tag cloud — they are that good.

    And this album is by far and away their best one yet. And I was pretty large fan of Underwater Cinematographer. I cannot wait to see these guys again tonight — the last time was them opening for The Danks The Strokes at the John Labatt Centre. I am relishing seeing them headline, and in a little more intimate of a setting.

    And this album is really great.

  6. tb3
    06

    This sentence was incomplete…

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by tb3

    There is a reason that they were the first band not directly tied in to the Broken Social Scene tag cloud signed to Arts & Crafts — they are that good.

  7. Vish Khanna
    07

    @MikeV

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Yeah, that Wooden Sky record is terrific! Good call.

  8. suckamc
    08

    I'm here

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by suckamc

    But I'm too sick to pick an album of the week.  I don't seem to listen to much music when I'm not feeling well.  I even missed Emm Gryner last night in Charlottetown!  :(

  9. Vish Khanna
    09

    @Martin

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Y'know, I was wondering where you were at. Hope you feel better soon. I thought my chest cold was gone but it seems to be flaring back up with a vengeance...

  10. suckamc
    10

    @Vish

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by suckamc

    Thanks Vish.  I thought I was going to be well enough to come into work today, but I may have been mistaken...

  11. MikeV
    11

    @Vish, Martin

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by MikeV

    You two aren't planning on spreading your diseases through the internet are you?

  12. suckamc
    12

    @MikeV

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by suckamc

    I've been trying... how are you feeling?

  13. MikeV
    13

    @Martin

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by MikeV

    Nervous.

  14. suckamc
    14

    @MikeV

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by suckamc

    *touching fingers together like Mr. Burns*

    Excellent...

  15. cathyort
    15

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by cathyort

    Joining the less than well crowd. But not feeling as bad as Martin.

    So, Vish, dish: what was your personal impression of Jay-Z?

  16. Benoit from Ottawa
    16

    All Washed Up

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Benoit from Ottawa

    One of Rae Spoon's most excellent songs, in my stupendously humble opinion.

  17. Bio Spice
    17

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Bio Spice

    I'm somehow very excited for you that you got to meet your hero and your wife made him mint tea, Vish.  Tea makes the world go round.  Well maybe it doesn't, but you know what I mean.  Right?

    I heard Jay-Z on Q, and his voice was higher than I was expecting. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

    And I'm sorry, but I don't have an album of the week, although I did pick up both the new Sarah Hallman and the Matt Ouimet albums this Sunday. But they are still in the shrink-wrap. But let's call them my albums of the week anyway, shall we?

  18. Benoit from Ottawa
    18

    Mangan's...

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Benoit from Ottawa

    ...Sold is starting to be overplayed. I'm saying this because it's gotten traction on Radio 2 now, so, all in all, it's getting played and played and played.

    Too bad, I like the song a lot.

  19. cathyort
    19

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by cathyort

    Kings of Leon launch clothing line?

    ROTFL

  20. Benoit from Ottawa
    20

    Mangan (cont'd)

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Benoit from Ottawa

    So perhaps it's time R3 started playing another cut. People here might suggest the next selection.

    Bye for now. Off to the country to cut some high branches.

     

    p.s.: I didn't like the rap so I went on another stream, and "rock" was playing Sun in an Empty Room by The Weakerthans. Rock, not the pop stream. Hm.

  21. Vish Khanna
    21

    @cathyort

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Jigga is a very nice man based on my limited interaction with him. He was very gracious with his time, he said my name, and I think appreciated my fandom.

    Thanks for asking!

  22. AshaH
    22

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 04, 2009 by AshaH

    My album of the week. I rotate a few. But this week its...

    Vandaveer - Grace & Speed, Matt Mays - When Angles Make Contact, an oldie but goody. And I got the Zolas new one yesterday, so that will be in rotation as well.

  23. risson
    23

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Vapours by Islands!

    Posted on Nov 12, 2009 by risson

    i'm a guelphite and can't help thinking back to hillside 2008 and wondering what was discussed between these two bands at some point over the weekend on the island.

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