Funny Face There’s A Whole World Out There is the sophomore effort from Ontario’s own Arm’s Length and it takes the listener on a thrilling journey of self-discovery, while still honing in on relatable themes like self-doubt, anxiety, and more. Anton DeLost is once again at the helm as the band’s producer, and he lets the band expand upon what made them so charming on their earlier releases. After having extensive touring experience under their belts from their solid debut, Never Before Seen, Never Again Found, Arm’s Length continue to impress with a unique repertoire here of slick hooks, improved musicianship, and a knack for descriptive songwriting.
The album opens on a slightly cautious note with the somberly strummed guitars on “The World” before exploding into the aggressive chorus. On the first verse, guitarist/vocalist Allen Steinberg shares, “I am self-aware / And that’s what makes me scared / I don’t breathe before I analyze the air / Should I know better by now? If I’m the one keeping count, I’d say I’m out,” and his relatable lyrics are both well-sung and filled with raw emotion. “Fatal Flaw” gets into a comfortable groove and makes for an important track on the record, as drummer Jeff Whyte supplies a cool pick-me-up beat to match along with the bounce of the song. I found the bridge of, “The moon keeps the sun at arm’s length / For she fears she would get burned / They have joint custody of earth / They just take turns / Another trip around the sun / Why does it feel like one too much? / Each year’s another wound / Death by a thousand cuts,” to be particularly well-written and the nod to the band’s name comes across as charming.
”Funny Face” follows with some more aggressive guitar playing from Steinberg and Jeremy Whyte, before breaking into some nice starts and stops between lyrics. Steinberg admits in the pre-chorus, “For you I’m vulnerable, I swear / I was a wound in the water / I was out in the open,” and the vivid lyrical imagery remains solid. “The Weight” features some more stellar drumming from Jeff Whyte, while the bass-heavy groove supplied by Benjamin Greenblatt helps with the pulsating song. Steinberg continues to explains his relationship with someone he truly admires as he croons, “I am calling you my soulmate / Because that’s what you are / I’m not thrilled about it either / Must be written up in Starlink / Or in white dwarfs / If I was the center of gravity / It’d fall into place naturally / Of that I’m sure.” Arm’s Length are at their best when they trust their musical instincts, and that’s on full display in the early sections of this LP.
”Palinopsia” features the vivid closing lyrics of “You loved the smell of gas and of the fresh-cut grass when we still had a yard / I take you back to the old days, the ones that made future shit so hard / Man, you know where to find me, it’s not in my nature to go that far / I’m your open wound, and you never can tell / If it’ll heal on its own, or if I’m desperate for help,” and shows the remarkable improvements in Steinberg’s lyric writing, and he makes his band’s music accessible and relatable, while still leaving enough mystery for others to interpret. “The Wound” picks up right where the last track left off as Steinberg delves more into what this particular wound is. The matter-of-fact lyric of “Time will heal all wounds, but not the ones that kill me” is as pointed as they come from this young emo band that is blossoming with endless possibilities in their sound.
”You Ominously End” takes a bold step by adding banjo to their emo sound, and make it work better than I could ever describe here. The song plays out like a combination of Americana music meeting at the hip of midwestern emo, and grabbing each other in a bit of dance between styles. It’s a really creative song, even if the lyrics are filled with dread and depression as Steinberg shares, “When you tried to take your life / You felt ashamed that you survived / Thought if there was one thing you’d do right / It’d be the best Irish goodbye.” “Early Onset” provides a rare ballad in the set of There’s A Whole World Out There, and it comes at just the right time in the sequencing to hit its intended feel. Steinberg’s ability to makes sense of the world is truly captivating as he carefully strums/sings on the chorus of, “Why stay worried for what you can’t control? Said you’d be nothing if not held responsible.” It’s great advice, and could potentially be used as a mantra for others looking for inspiration in their own endeavors.
”Genetic Lottery” opens with some great synths before bleeding back into the comfortable guitar sound that Arm’s Length have cut their teeth to. The second verse of “Been through the wringer / Called it mature for your age / Like in the winter / When it gets dark in the days / Don’t know if I don’t remember, or if I just can’t remember / I’m afraid there’s no other way,” does a nice job of setting up the memorable hook of “So I fucked around, ill-prepared to find out.” The piano-laced ballad of “Attic” follows and puts more emphasis on Steinberg’s mental health as he shares that the attic is metaphor for his thoughts as he sings, “And there is too much in the attic / That I never could disclose / And I will let it hold me back / From ever holding you as close.”
”Halley” is a straight-forward rocker in the same vein as bands like Anxious and Saves The Day, but Arm’s Length make it their own with the slick hook of, “All the mean bones in your body…are dissolving / You’re half as harmful when you leave / Pray your service lands on a leap year / You want no one to be there / Your ghost felt guilty when they grieved.” The band adds some more banjo at times during this track for those with a steady ear on the backing instrumentation. The album closer of “Morning Person” features a sweeping style to Steinberg’s vocal cadence, as he swoons over the quietly-strummed guitar in the first verse. The song picks up speed gradually, and makes for an ultra-memorable closing statement that leaves the audience with their jaws on the floor in utter awe of what they have experienced. There’s A Whole World Out There lives up to its album name since it covers a ton of new ground, while still remaining grounded in the topics of mental health, relationships, and the wanting for better days ahead. Arm’s Length are bringing an entirely new shelf life to the emo genre, and I’m all here for it.