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CJAM The Isles "Troika" "From the same school of melancholic pop as Magnetic Fields, Morrissey and Beat Happening, Isles drop their 2nd LP, "Troika", after the successes of their Melodic records-released album "Perfumed Lands" in 2006. The band's first studio recording, Isles keep their arrangements simple and direct, letting their songcraft do the heavy lifting as their keen hooks benefit from the crisp fidelity of the studio. With unassuming charm and skill, the band breeze through 14 tracks, seemingly never breaking a sweat as they cruise through perfect chorus after perfect chorus. " http://cjam-music.blogspot.com/2009/02/asobi-seksu-hush-after-critical.html

DaggerZine 06.22.09 The Isles TROIKA- (SELF RELEASED)- New York’s Isles’ third release starts off with “Justine,” a track that could have easily been written by Marshall Crenshaw. Remember him? Me neither, but the comparisons stop there. The next track, “Lately,” reveals the true influence of this band, The Smiths. With its Morrissey-ish, dead pan, whiny vocals and Marr’s jangly guitar, The Isles deliver finely crafted pop that I bet sounds better live. By far one of the best, and longest, tracks is “There’s No Heaven.” (Most of their songs clock in around two minutes.) Here’s a bouncy, jangly guitar pop song with David Byrne-ish vocals that ends with upbeat blistering guitar chords. Troika ends with a somber ballad, “Over & Under,” that brings Kitchens of Distinction to mind, mainly because of the vocals. As for the influences listed on their myspace: Guided by Voices, The Zombies, and Motown; I’m not seeing it. But if you like any of the bands I mentioned above, The Isles are right up your alley. ERIC EGGLESON http://www.daggerzine.com/reviews_main.html

SkyScraper Magazine The Isles’ Troika recalls the good old days of Aztec Camera, Prefab Sprout, Felt, Orange Juice, and The Smiths, with a small debt to Beat Happening. But while I’m making imperfect comparisons, I’ll mention The Dears, a Canadian band whose music channels a later era of Brit-pop—Suede, Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers. Like The Dears, The Isles aren’t especially derivative, but they give the impression that they’ve had a dream of the ideal pop music, and upon waking can’t get it to sound quite as good. So Troika may only be 75% of the way there, but it’s well worth your while. http://wmcn.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-music-round-up-speaking-of-condo.html

Pop Matters This, announces the publicity, is the first Isles album not to have been recorded in a basement. The guitars make a yearning, ringing sound, a 1980s-Manchester echo. The group is based in New York. Its frontman spends most of Troika singing with the languid croon of a Morrissey, making exceptions for “Goodwill and Cachet”, in which his voice deepens and steadies and he sounds like Johnny Cash, and “Under the Cover of Paradise”, where he adopts a muted Jim Morrison swagger backed up by a Doorsish keyboard. The guitars and the croon invite you to compare their lyrics to those of the Smiths. They come off worse. The musicians are adept enough, yet they wear their influences so clearly on their sleeves that as I sat in the fade-away of the last track the only thought in my head was: “I wonder what they would sound like if none of those other bands had existed?” http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/71785-the-isles-troika/

Bio:

The Isles is a group that’s had over a dozen members but never more than four at once.

Most of the recording has been in the dark, dingy basement of their headquarters, Action Jackson. The house stands in Long Island City and has hosted dozens of cultural events and rock shows including: Japanther, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Au Revoir Simone, Jeff Louis… The name comes from the address (Jackson Ave) and the late 80’s super action movie starring Carl Weathers (Action Jackson).

The first release, "Back to Terrific"(EP), was recorded in the basement of AJ and released on Binder records in 2005. “True South” was featured in the PBS documentary “The Education of Shelby Knox” and “Flying Under Cheap Kites” then known simply as “Fuck” made it on the NY Noise Compilation and the video was in rotation on channel 25. The first full length, "Perfumed Lands" was also recorded at AJ and took eight months of hard labor. The basement became known as the dungeon and tempers ran hot. Upon release on Melodic Records, “Perfumed Lands” was praised by major publications such as "The Guardian", "Magnet" and "NME". The songs were featured on various compilations, The Eve of the Battle video made it to MTV Europe and “Perfumed Lands” made the radio charts. The band toured for a month in Europe and was interviewed live on the BBC by Phil Jupitus.

On July 19th 2008, the group stepped into a commercial studio for the first time and began recording their third release, "Troika". The album was written and demoed at home in the spring of 2008. Songs were often written on Monday, arranged on Tuesday and demoed over the weekend. The same spirit traveled to Excello studio where The Isles recorded for 21 days. The record was written and arranged by Andrew Geller, Turner Stough and Timothy McCoy; that is the reason for the title "Troika", which refers to a governing body of three people.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "PERFUMED LANDS" - ASSORTED PRESS

THE GAURDIAN: "Flashes of contemporary color in flighty rhythms but a wash of late 1980s British Indies influences" (4/5)

NME: "a slow burn album for all seasons" (8/10)

MAGIC RPM: "In thirty minutes and ten meticulous songs, The Isles have promised an eternity." (Album of the Month September 2006) (6/6)

MAGNET: "Subtle, Skillful Smiths-Riffing"

BABYSUE: Easily one of the best new bands of the year. (5++/6)

PITCHFORK: "Nearly as over-the-top as My Chemical Romance but even less believable" (4.7/10)

XXXX Buy Our Record: www.melodic.co.uk/melo039.htm XXXX

Radio: Dan at Terrorbird

PR: Clyde at Fanatic