The third of the compilations that The Microphones released in 2002, Song Islands has more complex and thought-out songwriting than Blood, but also has less of Little Bird Flies Into A Big Black Cloud's overwhelmingly intimate and warm atmosphere. The general atmosphere is still similar, but not quite to the extent that it's predecessor was. Thus, it takes a firm second place, but that doesn't mean it's not worth hearing. On the contrary, it's a in-depth look at what exactly gets left on the cutting room floor when The Microphones made records, and most of it is, if not of the same quality as the songs on the LP's, only just a shade below. Take their take on an old-style blues song with "I'm A Pearl Diver" for instance. It's a fantastic song, but they left it off because it didn't fit what they were trying to do at the time. It shows how dedicated they were to their craft, and ultimately that makes Song Islands a comp worth hearing.
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