Islands - Arm’s Way

“This Montreal band’s Anti- debut is a far more calculated, robust affair than its first album, 2006’s “Return to the Sea.” The guitars crunch harder and the strings cut deeper—each song plays out like a mini theatrical production wherein the narrator is stabbed in the heart and attacked by a pack of dogs. It’s dark and dramatic, yet behind all that lies ex-Unicorns member Nick Thorburn’s penchant for pop music, meaning catchy hooks and melodies are among the commotion. The psychedelic bent of “The Arm” makes for a grand display of orchestral pop, the lead guitar slinking through “Creeper” is strangely compelling, and it’s all brought to a close with the 11-minute “Vertigo (If It’s a Crime),” which brews up such unsettling tension, you can’t help but anticipate what will happen next. —Jill Menze”