Arm...

One of the more overlooked bands to come out of the Minneapolis area in the 90’s was Arm. While some of their earlier recordings got the band gigs with some of the areas more prominent noise-rock acts like Hammerhead and Cows, their sound eventually moved away from the grittier and noisier AmRep style to something that, as they note in their bio, is more similar to Unwound or a more general melodic post-hardcore sound.

After a couple early singles, the band went in and recorded a self-titled full-length album that they would self release exclusively on vinyl. As one can imagine, that’s not the easiest thing in the world to find these days. Regardless, the album featured the aforementioned new direction that the band had taken, combining just enough melody to mix in with the bands more abrasive early stages to create a fully developed sound that still remains to be just as hard hitting as anything they had done previously. The band would then later go into record a five song EP in 1997 that sadly didn’t ever see the light of day due to the band breaking up before they could see it through. Have no fear though, thanks in part to Heart of a Champion Records released a compilation in 2003 of the bands long out of print and vinyl only album and the five song EP that had been previously unreleased up until then. The only downside of the compilation, which is titled Universal Standard Time, is that the earlier singles are left off of it. The reason I guess being the band didn’t really feel it represented their actual sound. Oh well, it’s still kind of disappointing though as I would have liked to have heard nice crisp quality recordings of those, but the fact that there is a compilation for Arm anyway is more than enough if you ask me and I give a tip of the hat for them putting it out. But anyway, for those that may have never heard this great band and are into mid nineties post-hardcore/indie-rock, then by all means check out the songs posted below from the Universal Standard Time.

Arm – Astrodraco [MP3]
Arm – Burning Season [MP3]
Arm – The Rhythm [MP3]

For those looking to pick Universal Standard Time up, it can be had over at CD Baby. Enjoy the tunes!