Album Review: Arm's Way by Islands

To start things off, I have to say that I wasn't a huge fan of Return To The Sea. I mean, it wasn't terrible, but it just seemed empty. The most of the tracks appeared to be thoughtless indie pop. "Swans (Life After Death)" was the only song that really interested me on the album, and in a way, it foreshadows their newest release. Arm's Way is longer and ballsier than Return to the Sea. Oddly enough, it shows more relation to Island's early demos, (ie. "Abominable Snowman" and "Flesh"), than Return To The Sea does. In fact, two songs are updated version of early demos, one called "Abominable Snow", and "I Feel Evil Creeping In".

Islands still sound poppy and catchy, but there is an edge. The lyrics are darker and Nick Thornburn really pushes his voice, at first I didn't recognize him. This time around the band seems actually into playing instruments, the guitar is crunchy, the drums are crashing, and the strings sweep in a beautiful melodramatic manner. Wait, strings? Yes. Strings. Arm's Way has an interesting twist, many tracks are heavily orchestrated. Nothing like something new to mix things up, I always say.

Arm's Way is going to be a divisible album, that's for sure. People have already said how it's too heavy-handed, and how it just isn't like their first. And should it be? For me, this is a positive step for Islands, they are doing what I really hoped they would do in the first place, make a rock album, not some faux-hip hop country samba album. And really, what is cooler than having Nick yelping "You are forgotten" to a part of the Who's "A Quick One While He's Gone", during "In The Rushes"?

Not everything is perfect though. "Creeper" is a little too disco, and the latin bridge in "J'aime Vous Voir Quitter" is a little too forced, but these faults are easy to look over.
It's dark, yet fun. Loud, yet catchy. It even has Hieronymus Bosch-esque album art. That's a winner in my book.

Rating: 4/5

-Lucas Thurston

Batulli and Manicci - A Pretentious Short Story by Lucas Thurston

Blood slowly dribbled though his teeth. He coughed and small dark flecks flew onto his white button-up shirt. They made a vague impressionist painting on his chest. His eye lids lay heavily about halfway down his eyes.
He felt the hot ring of the barrel of a handgun press up against his forehead.
"This is it Batulli! You have hid long enough in my footsteps, soon you will only be hidden by the earth over your body"
"Yeah well you know what? I-," Batulli stopped, he suddenly, on some strange impulse, decided to abort his thought.
"You know what what?" asked Manicci.
"Oh nothing."
"Come on, " pried Manicci. "Tell me."
"Nah, I decided against it," mused Batulli, in a strangely serene manner.
"What? No, tell me!"
"No, I don't want to."
"You can't just set me up like this! Now I want to know."
"Yeah well, it's gone now." replied Batulli.
"But...this...what? Why can't you just tell me?" pleaded Manicci. "I'm about to kill you! Doesn't that make you want to say your true feelings?"
"Not particularly," stated Batulli.
"Aww, c'mon! You're ruining the fun of killing you!" whined Manicci.
"Well, no one's putting a gun to your head."
"But...you in the shadows, I mean...hey, that was pretty funny right there. With the 'gun to your head' thing, very clever."
"I thought so."
A silence feel over the two men. The morning sun illuminated the both of them. Two silhouettes, one propped up against the vent, one standing with his arms at his sides.
"The morning sure is beautiful isn't it."
"Yeah...it really is."
Silence again.
"Same time next week?"
"Yeah sure."
"Right...hey could I borrow your cell? Ambulance."
"Oh yeah, no prob."

FIN

-Lucas Thurston