Sep. 09, 2009 - Issue #725: Sex in the City 2009

These Arms Are Snakes

Snakes on a vinyl: Seattle foursome offers fans a new way to say, 'Screw you'

There isn't a lot to misunderstand about These Arms Are Snakes' sound. Drawing as much from the big-time arena rockers of the '70s as from the punk and hardcore bands where the Seattle foursome cut its teeth, TAAS—whose acronym is almost as awkward as its proper name—mixes a pumping, punishing rhythm section with pointed guitars and occasional synth flourishes for something that isn't really assaulting so much as overwhelming, less a wall of sound than a wave.

The same can't quite be said of singer Steve Snere's lyrics, however. Usually delivered with a melodic gravel—though he can also shout with the best of them—Snere's words are about as dense as the most feverish of beat poetry. But don't feel bad if you can't quite follow along: half the time, neither can his bandmates.

"He gives us a minor run-down, but when he tells you what it's about, you just kind of look at the lyrics and go, 'I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about, but fair enough. That's how your brain works,'" guitarist Ryan Frederiksen says with an understanding nonchalance. "Steve knows exactly what's going on with it, but he likes to leave it open to interpretation: that's his fun way of doing it, and we know each other well enough that we know he's not going to surprise with some weird thing like, 'Oh, by the way, this is a white power song' or anything."

Nevertheless, you have to wonder if the general confusion hasn't pushed TAAS—rounded out by bassist Brian Cook and drummer Chris Common—to go for a more direct format for its music. Though Snere's themes tend to take centre stage on the albums, TAAS has recently favoured releasing split seven-inches with some of the band's closest Seattle friends, which has produced songs even more driven and tight than before.
Just kidding, obviously. As Frederiksen explains, it's got more to do with the changing form of music distribution than anything.

"CDs are just boring at this point; vinyl's always been a lot more fun," he says. "Now that you have download codes and stuff, you can have that kind of collector's item—anybody can get an MP3, but the record is that tangible thing that you can hang on to. Plus you get bragging rights: 'Oh, there's only 500 copies and I got one. Screw you.'" V

Wed, Sep 16 (8 pm)
These Arms Are Snakes
with Metz, Desiderata
Pawnshop, $13

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