A Deep Dive Into the Complexities of Life

The summer is by and by nearing its conclusion and will soon fall into fall. But that doesn’t mean there shall come more guaranteed rest for Nick Thorburn, former leader of the now-broken-up The Unicorns, a Canadian rock band once renowned for their magnetism. He completed most of the work required for Islands’ ninth album from his home in Los Angeles, sectors of upstate New York, the shiny Los Feliz and at Hollywood’s Sunset Sound. And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs and the music which it holds is as enigmatic as its poetic title, and just as expansive as the distance Thorburn traveled in order for it to meet its birth.

Islands’ last album, the 2021 come-backer Islomania, was much more promising with its themes than the grim topics the newest release tackles. That apparent juxtaposition between the two shouldn’t be off-putting to long-time fans or lone dabblers of the group, though, for now there’s just as great a chance that all who come Islands’ way, no matter where they arrive from, shall notice their wide-ranging focuses and each individual subject they desire to make peace with. They want listeners to understand the hellish world in which all humans live, the typically grave feeling of the future and the reality that all hope is often lost to the wandering wind. What finds life, out of all the depths those questions and concerns raise, is what truly puts together And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs. 

“Life’s a Joke,” the album’s opening track, is right where it needs to be for the dreariness to fully set in at just the perfect time. A voice saying, “This is rock-and-roll” can be heard before any music actually starts and whoever those words belong to is foreshadowing what lies ahead: an indie-pop sound, yes, but one that channels the spirit of what once made so many teens of the ’50s rebels in the eyes of adults. An enthusiastically childish “All right!” follows that unknown speaker’s limited hint and Thorburn then sings with gusto. This doleful devil dancing on his shoulder directs him, pointing him toward the best way of addressing the pain that turns lovers on. His continuous la-la-la’ing is charming and definitely eases the discomfort that comes along with lyrics like “Nothing seems to matter anyhow.” As for the instrumentation, it’s a tickle. 

The track that comes next is “And All You Can Do Is Laugh.” With an aquatic sound, it paints a vivid picture of underwater life and just might cause listeners to make a connection to the album’s title. A back-and-forth guitar and holistic hi-hats trump every other instrument in use, even the playful keyboard that takes up a substantial portion of it, creating a gooey, bubbly sonic phenomenon. Thorburn shares with his audience that sometimes all one can do is laugh or cry and that’s entirely okay. Again, this album is devoted to putting life into perspective, to guiding all through its disruptive waves.

First two aside, if it’s not already clear, it’s totally valid to state that everything on And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs is made more lively through its lyrics alone. While the album is replete with gorgeous soundscapes, nothing can quite compare to the beauty of Thorburn’s prose and his delivery of each syllable. There’s “Pelican,” for example, a song containing a simple message. It digests matters of all kinds in a good-natured manner, encouraging listeners to take in all things the same way the beak of the waterbird does, telling them to “drink an ocean.” Then there’s “Superstitious,” which details the detriment of the baggage people often put upon themselves, Thorburn singing, “Though the body weighs a ton, I know it can be done.” Certainly, the “it” he’s talking about can safely be translated to “anything at all.” Is there anything else that must be said to solidify the defiant stance of the album’s lyrics? No, there isn’t. 

And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs is stellar. Once listeners reach its end, they might just as well walk away feeling in awe of its starriness. Islands have struck a chord, literally and figuratively, once again, and fans should bank on the fact that everything that may come after it will do just the same.