So, The Killers attempted to step it up recently. And it might have all worked out too was it not for the fact that a previously unknown side-effect of attempting to become the new U2 is that your creativity bloats, sprouts a lengthy, greasy mane and IMs Jim Steinman for counsel. How do you go from ‘Somebody Told Me’ to mimicking the vocal stylings of Meatloaf? Either way, that matters little now, because just in the nick of time L.A. has virile young blood snapping at the heels of those who have become premature dinosaurs. The Blood Arm’s debut might not be quite as snappy as the good half of The Killers’ debut, but it piles on the enthusiasm, vigour and audacious poise to the point that it doesn’t really matter, because you’re wallowing in the zest of positivity and it feels nice.
They pile on the influences too, in the hope that some of them will stick. And the good news is that most of them do, at least for 3 minutes at a time. ‘Stay Put!’ cracks open the bottle and cuts the ribbon, like The Killers shaking ass with Scissor Sisters, ‘Accidental Soul’ is like the B52s at a 50s prom night with Stellastarr*, just without the insane inflated vocal, ‘Suspicious Characters’ is We Are Scientists disco dancing with Radio 4, and ‘Angela’ suddenly comes over all glam Adam Green with its quirky, sarcastic tone and jaunty keyboards. We’re only up to track 4, and things do carry on more or less at this pace throughout, only really waning towards the end. It’s not particularly significant, but it is a lot of fun. It’s like passing off a foam party as a Broadway production, just pure merriment with better lighting.