A Treasury of Great Science Fiction

Portland by way of Michigan indie rockers Spy Island's debut full-length, A Treasury of Great Science Fiction, is indeed a treasure. Recorded in various basements and bedrooms by Dale Nicholls and a cast of many, the record is a sparkling roller coaster that belies its spartan origins and stacks up well next to the work of bands that influenced them (Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips, Pavement, etc.). You can call them JV but they are one twisted ankle away from running with the big boys, one lucky break away from charming the socks off of Seth Cohen. You can call them micro-indie, but you can't deny that catchy, powerful tunes like the rollicking and slightly woozy "Charge This Vacation," the hard-charging "The Curse" and "Daylight Fades (As Faketown Shakes)," the jaunty "Mini Blinds," and the expansive near-epic "Acacia, Pt. 2" are the work of a band on the way up. You can't listen to the way Nicholls layers in a veritable orchestra of percussion, vintage keyboards, and voices and not think he is a dude fully in charge of his sonic destiny. Most of all, no one with a love of joyous pop and classic indie rock can listen to A Treasury of Great Science Fiction and not come away with a big smile. And a new favorite band.