Arm's Way
Arm's Way is the second studio album by Montreal-based Indie rock band, Islands. It was released on May 20, 2008 on CD and download. The album's title is a play on the words "harm's way". The album leaked online on April 11, 2008.[9]
Concept and Production
Drummer Aaron Harris outlined the album's concept and the band's songwriting approach thus:
We took a different approach with this album in that the music is focused on the band members - there are not any special appearances. Arm's was conceived in Montreal, we wrote the songs in a room with old NOFX and Insane Clown Posse posters on the wall. As a band we put the music together and then singer Nick Thorburn wrote the lyrics.[10]
Music
The musical style of Arm's Way represents a departure from the Graceland-inspired sound of debut album Return to the Sea. Rebecca Raber of Pitchfork writes, "Gone are the guest rappers, the acoustic nuevo-country twang, and the sunny Afro-Caribbean flourishes ... In their place are theatrical string arrangements, layers of silvery, minor-key guitars, and lots of gothy synthesizers."[4] Most lyrics include references to death and violence, themes which are shared with frontman Nick Thorburn's previous project The Unicorns.[7]
Track listing
| 1. |
"The Arm" |
5:38 |
| 2. |
"Pieces of You" |
4:06 |
| 3. |
"J'aime vous voir quitter" |
3:23 |
| 4. |
"Abominable Snow" |
4:35 |
| 5. |
"Creeper" |
3:15 |
| 6. |
"Kids Don't Know Shit" |
5:11 |
| 7. |
"Life in Jail" |
5:27 |
| 8. |
"In the Rushes" ((contains a portion of "A Quick One While He's Away" by The Who)) |
7:00 |
| 9. |
"We Swim" |
5:06 |
| 10. |
"To a Bond" |
7:47 |
| 11. |
"I Feel Evil Creeping In" |
5:31 |
| 12. |
"Vertigo (If It's a Crime)" |
11:01 |
The full album is streaming on the band's MySpace page.[11]
Credits
Produced by Ryan Hadlock and Islands
Engineered by Ryan Hadlock
Assistant Engineering by Mathieu Roberge
Mixed by Rob Schnapf and Doug Boehm
Mix Engineer Assistant: Chris Constable
Mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone
Songs written by Nick Thorburn
Music arranged by Islands
Drum programming on track 5 by Corn Gangg
Recorded at Mixart in Montreal & Bear Creek in Woodinville, April & May 2007
Mixed at Sonora in LA, September & October 2007
Mastered at Sterling Sound in New York, December 2007
Artwork by Rebecca Bird
Photography by Alexander Wagner
Layout and Title Design by Philip Laslett
References
