Arm's Way
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = Arm's Way
| type = Album
| artist = Islands
| cover = Islands - Arm's Way.jpg
| alt =
| released = May 20, 2008
| venue =
| studio = Bear Creek, Woodinville, WA, and Mixart, Montreal, Canada
| genre = Indie
| length = 68:06
| label = ANTI-[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/48655-islands-sign-to-anti--records Islands sign to ANTI-Records] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219233901/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/48655-islands-sign-to-anti--records |date=February 19, 2008 }}, article on Pitchfork Media's website
| producer = Ryan Hadlock and Islands
| prev_title = Return to the Sea
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Vapours
| next_year = 2009
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1348616|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]
|rev2 = Drowned in Sound
|rev3 = Pitchfork Media
|rev4 = PopMatters
|rev5 = Rolling Stone
|rev6 = Spin
|rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/islands-arms-way-anti|title=Islands, 'Arm's Way' (Anti-)|date=June 4, 2008|website=spin.com|accessdate=July 8, 2017}}
|rev7 = Tiny Mix Tapes
|rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}[http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Islands,6275 Tiny Mix Tapes review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523195705/http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Islands%2C6275 |date=May 23, 2008 }}
}}
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.[http://www.secretunicornsforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22585/ Arm's Way leak thread], on The Secret Unicorns Forum
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.{{cite web | url= http://thefmly.blogspot.com/2008/05/islands-interview.html | title= Islands Interview | publisher = FMLY}}
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." Most lyrics include references to death and violence, themes which are shared with frontman Nick Thorburn's previous project The Unicorns.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = The Arm
| length1 = 5:38
| title2 = Pieces of You
| length2 = 4:06
| title3 = J'aime vous voir quitter
| length3 = 3:23
| title4 = Abominable Snow
| length4 = 4:35
| title5 = Creeper
| length5 = 3:15
| title6 = Kids Don't Know Shit
| length6 = 5:11
| title7 = Life in Jail
| length7 = 5:27
| title8 = In the Rushes
| note8 = contains a portion of "A Quick One While He's Away" by The Who
| length8 = 7:00
| title9 = We Swim
| length9 = 5:06
| title10 = To a Bond
| length10 = 7:47
| title11 = I Feel Evil Creeping In
| length11 = 5:31
| title12 = Vertigo (If It's a Crime)
| length12 = 11:01
}}
Personnel
Adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|title=Arm's Way – Islands|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/arms-way-mw0000786782/credits|website=AllMusic|accessdate=July 8, 2017}}
- Patrice Agbokou – bass
- [https://www.rebeccabird.info/ Rebecca Bird] – artwork
- Doug Boehm – mixing
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Alex Chow – percussion, synthesizer, viola, violin
- Sebastian Chow – oboe, piano, violin, vocals
- Chris Constable – mixing assistant
- Corn Gangg – drum programming
- Steve Fallone – mastering
- Patrick Gregoire – bass clarinet, guitar
- Ryan Hadlock – engineer, producer
- Aaron Harris – drums, percussion, vocals
- Islands – arranger, primary artist, producer
- Mathieu Roberge – assistant engineer
- Rob Schnapf – mixing
- Nick Thorburn – guitar, vocals
- Alexander Wagner – photography
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Islands (band)}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Anti- (record label) albums