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The internet is the promotional tool for young, budding musicians, and Arcs makes good use of it. The band wisely decided to offer this, their self-titled, debut effort, as a free, digital release and as an actual pressed disc. Not only does this tactic open their music to a larger swarm of people, it's a nice display of modesty, especially considering that the band could sell some records.
I get the feeling that, more than anything else, Arcs wants their music to be available. The band doesn't revolve around hip trends and stylish antics; instead, they play soft, melodic rock and do an amicable job of fleshing out their sound with a variety of instruments, percussion and vocal layering. It's like Jimmy Eat World (Blueline Medic would be closer, but no one remembers them) and Death Cab for Cutie got together with a bunch of friends, who doubled as guest musicians, and used average recording equipment to lay down seven songs. That said, Arcs has a foundation in familiar, accessible music, but harnesses their independence to do whatever feels right, even if it is awkward.
Arcs' music is warm and inviting, and those qualities often stem from Sam Sutherland's likable singing and humble presence, the healthy number of acoustic and clean guitar parts, mostly mid-paced tempos, and smooth piano and keyboard inclusions. A number of songs also feature a mix of male and female backing vocals, which gives them a friendly, everyone-gets-along vibe. In contrast, "’The Earth is Clearly Round’" and "Conan Versus Resilience" stand out as somber. But, as their minutes pass, the band's energy reserves start to bubble, creating exciting, defined climaxes.
I find it difficult to not like Arcs. While their music isn't jam-packed with hooks, it's honest and it feels real. And, hell, it's free, so take a listen (check out “Ghosts of Shopping Malls” or "I Wish I Took More Pictures" if you’re going to pick one or two).
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