Album Reviews

Someone finally had the brilliant idea to thaw out these guys from way up north in the US (Minneapolis and Eau Claire, WI to be precise) and let them record a new album. About friggin’ time. I don’t know about you, but I was about ready for some new Arms Aloft tuneage. Their last album, “Sawdust City”, already dates from way back in 2012.

And they don’t disappoint on “What A Time To Be Barely Alive”. These twelve songs have as much in common with early Gaslight Anthem (you know, when they were still good) as they do with Midwest punk. In short, these songs are pretty damn solid! All of them come with the kind of rhythms that are made for nodding along, gruff vocals that go hand in hand with bittersweet melodies and lyrics that rally against social injustices while still maintaining a sense of hopefulness that we can still turn things around. Just have to make sure that that tantrum-throwing blowhard doesn’t get his hands on the nuclear launch codes.

Track listing:

1. We Have Nothing To Lose But Our Chains...     
2. Three Altars For Rats     
3. The Truth Is Out There     
4. The Voyage Of The Dawndreaders     
5. What A Time To Be Barely Alive     
6. Hollowlujah!     
7. Untitled     
8. I Want To Be Leaves     
9. Sloslylove Is Playing At My House     
10. A Psalm For Our Jobs And Apartments     
11. West Grand Ave. Maria     
12. ...And A World To Win