Arcade Fire have been so big for so long that it’s easy to forget they emerged from the Montreal underground scene as long-dormant indie-pop quirk-masters the Unicorns, whose Nick Thorburn later went on to form the long-running Islands. In fact, as Thorburn points out in a new interview, the Unicorns actually took Arcade Fire on [...]

After 10 years broken up, the Unicorns are finally back together and touring (and opening for Arcade Fire!), and though we have yet to hear any new original material, they’ve shared a cover of “Rocketship” by Daniel Johnston, likely to be included on the upcoming reissue of their beloved only album, Who Will Cut Our...

The idiosyncratic Montreal-based herky-jerk indie band the Unicorns released a grand total of two albums, including 2003′s much-loved Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?, before breaking up onstage at the end of 2004. After the breakup, frontman Nick Thorburn started his prolific project Islands. And even though his ex-Uni...

From the Unicorns to Human Highway, Islands' Nick Thorburn knows a thing or two about collaboration, and he has assembled quite an impressive lineup for an upcoming benefit show.On December 8, Thorburn (going under his previous moniker Nick Diamonds), David Cross, Marnie Stern, Trail of Dead's Conrad Keely, Leona Naess, and others will partake i...