Having just returned from a trip to Malaysia, where internet and other related amusements are sparse, I went on a binge diet of podcasts and rss reading. On an older podcast of All Songs Considered was a poll of listeners’ favorite albums of the year so far, one of which was the Islands’ album Arm’s Way. I was a little wary, seeing as I didn’t entirely love their previous album, Return to the Sea – at times too cutesy and not melodic enough, it somehow didn’t manage to hit the right chords all the time. Although there were some decent, lighthearted songs there, like “Don’t Call Me Whitney Bobby,” it’s not exactly an album I listen to very often.
Enter the All Songs Considered podcast featuring the song “Creeper” off their newer album. I was instantly hooked. Honestly, the riffs are just so damn catchy. They’re not repetitive or weird or silly. They’re just really good, catchy beats and tunes that are a fairly drastic, edgy turn from the earlier flippant, carefree tone that the band had. Intrigued, I hypemachined them and, after a few listens, got the whole album. Best decision I’ve made in a while.
I’ve never tried to go back to a band’s later stuff if I didn’t like their first album, and now I’m rethinking that notion – Arm’s Way is terribly catchy and its songs vary in tone and mood. There are lots of layers and textures to each track, including a fair amount of strings – and you know I love me some strings sections. Yes, their lyrics are still a little strange, but strange in an intriguing, engaging way. The catchy, alternately melodic and more robust and edgy tunes override any other hesitations I have. I’ve been listening to it on repeat for the past couple of hours. Definitely the best album I missed this year. I had to go back and give Return to the Sea another listen to make sure I didn’t like it.
I don’t know if I could explain my newfound obsession past that, so you’ll have to take my word on it and give it a listen:
