Kids Aflame

I've had the distinct pleasure of being able to sit with Arms' new record, Kids Aflame, for the past couple of months ahead of its release in late June, and I can hardly thank Todd Goldstein enough. I feel like I've had a good amount of time to digest the complete work of art and I can honestly say that this is perhaps one of my favorite records of recent memory. I'm not just saying this because Todd is a friend, or that I'm trying to hype a record from a client. It is simply a great indie pop album, with hooks galore and enough quirks to keep things from getting too saccharine sweet. Take a listen to the classic guitar hook in Whirring (how has that riff never been written before?) and the slow build of a lone guitar to a symphony of synths and disco beats on Shitty Little Disco. One of my favorite tracks, Pocket, starts out as a typical indie rock song before climaxing midway with a chorus of barn burning, jazzy horns.

I can't imagine a better musical companion for the come-down drive home after a night out in the big city. The combination of sentimentality, sadness and hopefulness that the lyrics and music manage to juggle is exquisite. Arms soundtracked my summer back in 2005 when I first randomly happened upon his music on myspace, and I have no doubt that the expanded songs on this debut will continue that tradition. I absolutely cannot wait to hear what Todd does next...which should be the new Harlem Shakes disc, so thankfully the wait will not be long. Apparently the album is already available on iTunes, so cheggit out. www.armsarms.com www.myspace.com/armsongs