''Arm's Way'' is the second studio album by

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-based

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

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.

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 NOFX () is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Vocalist/bassist Fat Mike, guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin are original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...
and
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posters on the wall. As a band we put the music together and then singer Nick Thorburn wrote the lyrics.

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 Nicholas Thorburn (born 27 November 1981), also known by his stage name Nick Diamonds, is a Canadian musician originally from Campbell River. He has fronted numerous bands such as The Unicorns, Th' Corn Gangg, Islands, Reefer, and Human Highw ...

's previous project The Unicorns.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic. * Patrice Agbokou – bass
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

{{Authority control 2008 albums Anti- (record label) albums Islands (band) albums Albums recorded at Bear Creek Studio