[REVIEW] ARMS: EP 2

Brooklyns's ARMS have come a long way. Starting as the primary vehicle for Todd Goldstein's solo music, the project went on hold while the Harlem Shakes started to blow up. When they broke up, Todd started to explore ARMS as his primary outlet again and put out Summer Skills, one of the best full lengths of the last few years. That was close to two years ago. Now they're back and offering their next batch of songs out on Paper Garden Records.

EP 2 is a perfect follow up to Summer Skills. It's ebullient and intelligent indie rock with a strong tendency towards inventive melodies, captivating lyrics, and a feel somewhere between a quiet longing and restlessness. We reviewed first single "Comfort"before and are equally excited about the rest of the EP. "Earthquake Weather" is an easy second single. The verses shuffle along, wrapping the song into a canvas of autumnal tones until it explodes in a chorus of harmonies and swirling atmospherics. "Sleepwalker" sounds like driving through the woods at night, focusing on a driving bass, string swells and and Goldstein's narration. Sympathetic Strings brings the record down a notch, tying the listener down in a dream space that feels like an tipsy whirlwind in slow motion. "Up & Up" may be one of the best songs Goldstein has ever written, moving with huge waves of sound cascading into a joyful explosion clattering cymbals guitar stabs that ultimately lead to an epic fadeout that serves as the perfect ending to the album.

Don't miss out on EP2 and hopefully we will see Arms touring our by in the coming months.