With the break-up of Harlem Shakes in 2009, what was once a side project for Todd Goldstein has reemerged as his main project in the form of ARMS’ sophomore offering Summer Skills. Upon first listen, it is clear that this album has a formula and what works is that it doesn’t attempt to do too much at once. The first track, “Emily Sue, Cont’d” is a charming song that finds a perfect mixture of guitar driven progression and well thought out lyrics. Almost R.E.M. sounding, it grabs the listener and pulls them into the record. “Fleeced” creates a sense of urgency as it builds the anxiety with guitar riffs that can be described as ambitious to say the least. The song paces itself well, reaching its ultimate climax with “Now they’re calling to you from across the abyss, and they moan, and they hiss, and they scream.” “Dog Days and High Heels” combine to create a roller coaster for the listener bringing them up and down verse by verse. The album creates an internal restlessness and that’s a positive thing. Constantly driving towards something, while simultaneously changing gears, ARMS produces a record that challenges the listener to appreciate the subtleties and not take the album at face value. “Heat & Hot Water” has a temperament in itself. Like a steam locomotive hissing down the tracks, it pushes onward relentlessly building upon itself. You may not like this song, but your left foot sure does. “Sore” and “Three Mile Island “collectively bring down the mood with their gentle melodies, almost lulling the listener into a trance. “Face-Gravity” awakens the senses with a progressive beat that could almost be mistaken for a song written by The Features. Just when the album seems to have explained itself, along come “Glass Harmonica” and “Curtains” which seem like an island all to themselves. The ability of ARMS to change the mood with such ease is what gives the LP its appeal. Summer Skills closes out the album with a dreary narrative that culminates in acoustics and harmonies. The album may have single songs that are able to stand alone, but listened to as a collective, it is able to create a truly enjoyable experience for the listener.