These Arms Are Snakes - Oxeneers Or The Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 26 / 1 / 2005

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Review

In the midst of the bustling commute home, in between the coffee that keeps us awake and the newspaper that keeps us aware, music can help keep us sane. But with our collection hidden in a tiny digital box, listen by genre and set on shuffle, do we ever really listen to music anymore? Do we ever look beyond the genre, the scene and the trendy label to see the personal nuances that really make bands different from each other? These Arms Are Snakes first came to public attention with their debut EP, 'This Is Meant To Hurt You', but surpass any expectations that record may have generated with a full length debut. The band was formed from several notable hardcore bands, and it feels like each member has more ideas than they could ever hope to cram onto a single disc. On first listen this is a band that seem absolutely made for the MP3 generation, for a music listener who has his whole collection turned into a random compilation. Each track bursts with a frenzy of noise, intense lyrics bemoaning urban decay and modern confusion, with enough to make them stand out from the soundalike garage rock urchins. The band are rooted in hardcore, but have absorbed the great rock of the past, and the experimentalism of their indie peers. But, to go beyond this is very hard work. The band has clearly put a lot of effort into giving this album themes, of linking the artwork to the music. It is beautifully packaged. The lyrics are insightful and bear extended analysis. But the problem is there is too much going on. For every great moment there is an idea that doesn’t seem to fit. Make no mistake, this is a fun album to listen to, and if you are prepared to give it the time it deserves, very rewarding. I simply feel that if These Arms Are Snakes had a good editor, they could filter the elements that weigh this album down out, and become the sort of lean, energetic rock band that make truly great music. To end with a cliché, sometimes less really is more.

Track Listing:-

1 The Shit Sisters
2 Angela's Secret
3 Big News
4 Tracing
5 Your Pearly Whites
6 Gadget Arms
7 Greetings From The Great North Woods
8 La Stanza Bianca
9 Darlings of New Midnight
10 Oxeneer
11 Idaho