Nick Thorburn has the power to electrify. He's always had it, from his beginnings fronting tweelectro-pop band the Unicorns, through his and drummer Jamie Thompson's second-generation outfit Islands, and even at points in supergroups (Mister Heavenly, Human Highway) and his own solo projects. The songwriter formerly-and-still-sometimes known as Nick Diamonds has demonstrated a singular grasp on inventive songwriting that wriggles its way into gray matter. His twinkling melodies, vivid lyricism, and off-the-wall banter can amplify the rich depth of his influences, from Paul Simon's and calypso to weird hip-hop and mother nature. But power amounts to little when it's not employed. Which is all to say that when Thorburn tries for something more muted-- as on Islands' fifth LP, -- the result isn't a disaster; his music in this mode can actually be pretty nice, if a little vanilla.