The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?

The Unicorns are kind of a staple in the realm of indie rock/pop, a trio from Montreal who broke up after two full-lengths. Their hybrid form of experimental pop saw the release of their second and last full length in 2003, 'Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?' -- notably on Alien8 recordings alongside foundation-shaking acts like Acid Mothers Temple and Merzbow. The band broke up, but all the members can be found in other projects (the most-recognized being 'Islands', or a project of Thorburn/Thompson).

If I had to scribe them in stone, I'd say the Unicorns were a terrific mixing of simple complexities. That also doesn't make sense, but if I'm writing in stone, might as well be cryptic. But really, this album is the go-to album in my head whenever someone mentions interesting forms of "indie-rock"/"indie-pop", because I guess the term alternative just doesn't cut it anymore. The songs shift moods at any given moment, the lyrics hold your attention, both singers go well together and make pleasing melodies in unconventional fashions, and the overall theme of the album really feels/sounds like a journey. The journey, I guess, is one of mortality and acceptance -- as the opening song "I Don't Want to Die" starts the album, and "Ready to Die" closes.

I guess not much else I can say -- if you haven't heard of the Unicorns, or avoided them because, say, pitchfork-reading myspace-tweeners corrupted your curiosity (sup, 2002?)....now is the time to become acquainted. Really just one of the more interesting and well-put albums I've heard. Quality listen in headphones, especially.

Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
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mind the graves