Travel To The Island Of Misfit Toys To Find "Hermit Crab"
By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 16, 2011 3:40PM
Releasing their debut record for local imprint Tandem Shop on June 28, Chicago octet The Island of Misfit Toys combine two different musical aesthetics for lead single "Hermit Crab."
Walking out a stop-start, jerky rhythm reminiscent of both Elvis Costello and Ian McKaye (though probably hedging more toward the former), "Crab" starts off on a tense note before loosening up with jangly guitars; warm, inviting vocal melodies of 70s singer/songwriers; bells and new-wave-indebted synthesizers.
Singer Anthony Sanders's slightly yelping, dramatic style echoes the Arcade Fire's Win Butler, but Misfit Toys are a little bit too funky and angry to reach that Canadian band's orchestral heights.
Instead, "Hermit Crab" runs a variety of emotions -- throwing in a syncopated breakdown for good measure -- before easing back down to an acoustic, dual harmony folk coda. "Hermit Crab" is taken from Bear Hair, the title of which is a reference to the rest of the band easing Sanders's temper, according to a press release. Listen to "Hermit Crab" below.
TS007 The Island of Misfit Toys - "Hermit Crab" by Tandem Shop