ARMS is Todd Goldstein (guitarist from Harlem Shakes) and the album is basically a reissue of an earlier EP with a few more tracks added. There are a few good tracks including the single Whirring, Construction and Shitty Little Disco but most of it is a bit average. Shame.
Here is the review:
There are many bands who are actually just one person and ARMS is one of those bands. Todd Goldstein is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who makes challenging and interesting guitar based music from his bedroom in Brooklyn, NY. He is one of these introspective songwriters for which art is a cathartic experience.
Kids Aflame opens with 'Sabretooth Typist', a short introduction of choral vocals and rubber band guitars, before launching into first single 'Whirring'. After a promising start of jangling guitars and drums, Goldstein's delicious vocals arrive - this is what Damon Albarn would sound like if he could sing like Tom Smith (Editors) and Richard Hawley at the same time. From here the song loses momentum before starting again, this time with added subtle backing vocals. He has a way with words: "It's the season for smashing glasses; cast our shadows on tall fences", he muses dreamily. Instead of drifting away, the music builds to a frenzied climax of layered guitars and drums.
'Construction' is much less busy. Again Goldstein delivers a wonderful vocal performance, tinged with dark overtones. The music matches him perfectly, echoing the same melancholy feel with creepy guitars, deep strings and some well placed handclaps. The agoraphobic nature of the song is present in the lyrics: "This isn't what we planned you know, we stay inside on Sunday morning sleeping through construction and the pounding of the rain". The last part of the song gets unnecessarily frantic which is a shame.
The title track has the horrible feeling of a Jack Johnson b-side; all tropical acoustic guitars, finger clicking and wordless vocals. The whole arrangement doesn't work with far too much added into the mix. 'Tiger Tamer' is clearly an earlier song which has Goldstein doing an impression of 'They Might Be Giants' doing a 'Pixies' cover. It is controlled and precise for the first 30 seconds then loses all structure. Again the outro is way over-the-top.
The appropriately named 'Sad, Sad, Sad' continues the lull. It is one of those songs which creates an uneasy atmosphere from the juxtaposition of upbeat music and downbeat lyrics, again about agoraphobia and depression in the wake of fame: "Days alone are the days you dread the most. Counting down the hours in caffeine and morning shows. It's not for lack of funds, you're bathing in your money and your drugs but you can't hate everyone". It is challenging stuff but spread a little thick. The song nearly grinds to a halt before a predictably noisy ending.
'Shitty Little Disco', the name given to the previous ARMS EP, is a wonderful return to form and captures 'The Velvet Underground' at their best. The gliding electronic strings add a perfect lift under more excellent guitar work. Unfortunately 'The Frozen Lake' is a distorted mess. Thankfully it is also short. 'Fall' is also a difficult fragment of a song, somewhere between a dream and reality.
The vocals on 'John The Escalator' are indistinguishable from those at the start of the album. Another earlier song, Goldstein sounds thin and listless and is overwhelmed by the music. The vocal mix is all wrong. Eyeball, in which Goldstein muses about the existence of eyes, shows that the album is running out of ideas. The Italian guitars are a neat touch but the song's relentless plod, and reliance on more wordlessness starts to get annoying. The addition of female backing vocals at least breaks the monotony.
'Pocket' tries desperately to inject some fuel into the dying fire. But it remains more of the same. The multi-vocals become confused and unfocused and the brass-led mid-section sounds out of place. It only really works at the end. Final track 'Ana M' is agonisingly slow. Again the introduction of female vocals adds depth but breaks the personal nature of the song. Lines like: "I took me seven years of pictures. You look the same in every single one" reveal the genius of Goldstein's talent. But it is too little and too late.
ARMS is one man fighting to find his own identity. Fans who bought the 'Shitty Little Disco EP' will be disappointed with 'Kids Aflame' as there is very little added to make the full album. It is very inconsistent, full of clear influences and wandering directions which never quite finds a comfortable place. But maybe that is the effect Todd Goldstein is going for - capturing his uneasy life in his music. It is commendable that this is the work of one person but when compared to 'We Can Create' by Maps for instance, it pales in comparison. Goldstein also plays guitar in 'Harlem Shakes'. ARMS may be a necessary cathartic distraction but he should stick to his day job.
4/10
-- CS (for The Music Magazine 2008)
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