Arm's Way
# Arm's Way

Professional ratings :

| Aggregate scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 71/100 |
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Drowned in Sound | 9/10 |
| Pitchfork Media | 6.2/10 |
| PopMatters | 6/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Spin | |
| Tiny Mix Tapes | |

Arm's Way is the second studio album by Montreal-based indie rock 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 and Insane Clown Posse 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's previous project The Unicorns.

## 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
