Todd Goldstein's more immediately known for his work in Harlem Shakes, but recording solo as Arms shows that what might at first seem like yet another in the endless series of indie rock records has something a little more to it. Goldstein's voice -- slightly hangdog but not mumbling or unclear -- is the key, in that he almost preternaturally captures the similar feeling of Peter Perrett, whose work in the Only Ones has remained a cult signpost for similarly just-on-the-edge-of-mopey singers since then. By not sounding either mass-market emo or swanningly theatrical, he stands out almost by default in a pretty crowded music world. With this as the secret weapon that becomes more crucial the more one listens, where Kids Aflame, his debut under the Arms name, really succeeds is when Goldstein steers clearer of standard enough indie rock arrangements to more left-field approaches, most often the calmer or sparer ones. The title track's gentle guitar twinkles, matched later by the similar sounding "Eyeball" (which has some killer lines like "When I remember my dreams/They're always of you"), brings out his main and harmony vocals to the full, and even in a resigned and understated way they still hit very nicely. Goldstein doesn't set aside humor in all this -- thus the wryly titled "Sad Sad Sad" -- and with the excellent "Shitty Little Disco" readily demonstrates a knack for a slowly building, triumphant sounding anthem that's still a little downbeat no matter what.
I posted about Arms before, So its gotta be time for a follow up. Arms is a solo project of Todd Golstein of Harlem Shakes. He makes music out of retexturized rock formulas. Minimalist without "artyfact", defiantly lo-fi, witty & knowing subversions of standard rock cliches. Arena rock power chords slash & burn & disappear while a ukelele (for instance) floats a gentle melody over sudden
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Gigantic Music (The Walkmen, Harlem Shakes) is pleased to announce the long-awaited release of ARMS (Todd Goldstein, guitarist for Harlem Shakes)’ full-length debut, Kids Aflame, in the US!...**Summary** Go to website for downloads, videos & more.
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Go find some free music. This the internet after all.:: Arms “Kids Aflame” [Website]:: The Dodos “Fables” [Frenchkiss]:: Shudder To Think “Hit Liquor” [Team Love]:: Stars Of Track & Field “Racing Lights” [Wind-Up]:: Sunny Day Real Estate “Seven (Remastered)” [Sub Pop]
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ARMS is the brain-child of Todd Goldstein, the guitarist of Brookyln group the Harlem Shakes. ARMS started out as a lo-fi bedroom project some moons ago but as turned into a whole touring band. "Kids Aflame" is the title track off their upcoming US debut which drops October 27th and features my favorite instrument, the ukulele. If this track is any indication of the album, we're looking at
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Arms is primarily just a singular musician by the name of Todd Goldstein. His work, both in the studio and on-stage is made up of varying musicians who all lend a hand in creating the Arms sound and who helped, in part, to create this, the Goldstein's début record Kids Aflame which is now being re-released.
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Who: Arms from Brooklyn.What: A track from the album Kids Aflame, the debut of Todd Goldstein, aka Arms. Known as the guitarist for now defunct NY band The Harklem Shakes, Todd has been crafting songs since 2004, ‘holing up with a single microphone and a laptop in a series of rickety bedroom recording spaces’. His [...]
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 "Kids Aflame")
