Islands
(Anti-)
For their sophomore album, Montreal’s Islands indulged in every fantasy. From the evil plotline of death and jails to the symphonic string arrangements to the eleven-minute disc closer, they spared no expense. The sextet packs a ton of information – both lyrically and musically – into every open space. When these sections are taken individually the results can at times be stuffy, but when taken as a whole (as this is clearly intended), Arm’s Way is a captivating journey.
Somehow balancing the dark theatrical world of The Mars Volta with sunny pop-tastic “da-da-da” harmonies, bouncy Caribbean rhythms, and an overall Arcade Fire aesthetic, it’s Nick Thorburn’s vocals that hold it all together. That’s not to say these tracks don’t move on their own, “Creeper” is a sketchy dance number with a deep beat while “In the Rushes” builds to triumphant heights (and includes a nice twist on The Who’s “A Quick One While He’s Away”), but it’s the adventurous spirit and ambitious vision that makes this a great album. Arm’s Way is a gutsy effort that seems to indicate Islands’ desire to evolve and push their art each time out.
Standout Tracks: “Creeper,” “In The Rushes” AARON KAYCE
