In honor of the CMJ Music Marathon coming up in another week, we’ve decided to take our ghost themed flashback to the early days of one CMJ’s poster boys.

Way back in 2000, when everyone was trying their hand at the disco punk movement (part 2), a flashy young gent by the name of Nick Thorburn put an identifiable mark on the new wave of nu wave with the band The Unicorns. By 2004 the band had broken up, but not before releasing three full lengths and a few 7″. Their most prominent LP was 2003’s Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? put out by the way-too-under-appreciated Alien 8 Recordings, which featured the single “Tuff Ghost”.

The rest, as they say, is history, with Thorburn going on to become one of indie music’s poster children for creativity and expansive side projects, including Islands and newly formed Human Highway. But before all that, he dressed in white with a little glammy make-up and pranced around like he was an 80s superstar.

The Unicorns
Alien 8 Recordings

1. Flashback Friday Video – Michael Jackson “Thriller”
2. Flashback Friday Video – Squirrel Nut Zippers “Ghost Of Stephen Foster”
3. Flashback Friday Video – The Specials “Ghost Town”
4. Flashback Friday Video(s) – Tegan And Sara & The White Stripes “Walking With A Ghost”
5. Flashback Friday Video – Sonic Youth “Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)”