Track Listing

1. Home
2. Hey Hilary
3. Arm in arm
4. Nothing\x{2019}s goin\x{2019} right (with Christy Moore)
5. Lonely boy
6. Lifestyle
7. Rosie
8. You are my lover
9. Hatred is wasted
10. The lament
11. Feels like growing up

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #79751 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Anthemic is the word
The mighty 'Dam are back with another selection of heartfelt lyrics and great big fat choruses to warm the spirit. Crowd pleasing lead single Home kicks things off in fine flag-waving style. With its fiddle and Uillean pipes, this track shows a slight return to the more Celtic-tinged feel of 'Dam predecessors Pele, as do both the title track and Nothing's Goin' Right. That's not to say the album is all twiddley-diddley: it's not. There are still the singalong stompers, the big ballads, and - in Hey Hilary - even a quiet/loud rocker. Amsterdam go grunge? Well, not quite, but it adds to the eclecticism that makes the album an altogether rounded listening experience.

As with previous album The Journey, Arm In Arm is a mixture of new songs and a few that have been around, albeit in different form, for a while. Diehard Amsterdamsters will allow themselves a wry smile as newbies enthuse about the charms of the rocking Lifestyle, the slightly funky You Are My Lover or the haunting Hatred Is Wasted, but perhaps the most welcome 'oldie' inclusion is that of beautiful closing track Feels Like Growing Up - long overdue the chance of a wider audience. The version here may be a little shorter than the 7 minute epic featured on 2001's self-released (and sadly now deleted) Attitunes, but is no less effective in raising the goosebumps.

Never one to shy away from baring his soul, Ian Prowse will sing about being on the receiving end of "a real kicking" in Hatred Is Wasted, or will reminisce about former lovers - including ex-bandmate Genevieve Mort - in The Lament (possibly the bounciest, catchiest "lament" you'll ever hear): intensely personal subject matter filled with genuine emotion and heartfelt sentiment. Yet still the masses think "emotion" is to be found in a Westlife karaoke ballad or a Whitney/Mariah/Celine squawkathon. Honestly. It's enough to make you want to chew concrete.

All in all, Arm In Arm is another big step forward in Amsterdam's move towards world domination. Which should happen any time now. You just watch...

Stunning
I first heard Ian Prowse last year when Ian appeared on numerous occasions at the Zanzibar with Pete Wylie. His vocals and passion blew me away so I was really looking forward to this album.

I was at the Liverpool launch at the Cavern on 15th March and was not disappointed. I got the album on Monday and it's been on permanent repeat ever since. The title track is a raucous old affair which I think is my favourite track on the album, closely followed by Nothing's Going Right - with Christy Moore's mystic presence that track was never going to fail. Home and The Lament are also stand out tracks for me.

You can't go wrong with this album.

There Are Winners, There are losers ...
The people who miss out on this album are the ones that have lost.

I've been a fan now of Amsterdam's frontman Ian Prowse's songs since hearing his old band Pele back in the early 90s. This is Amsterdam's second official studio album (or 4th if you count the 2 internet only albums 'Attitunes' & 'The Curse') and is easily their best to date. In fact I'd go as far as to say this album features Prowsey's best songs todate, and that includes the Pele stuff.

Ok, there's a few old songs on here ('Lonely Boy','Hatred Is Wasted' and 'Feels Like Growing Up') but all have been updated and re-recorded and sound all the better for it. 'Arm In Arm' also includes a great acoustic song 'Rosie' which was penned by Amsterdam guitarist Johnny 'Hair Bear' Barlow. Also must mention Anna Jenkins whose violin & vocal harmonies add a new depth to Amsterdam's songs.

I really think that this is the record that will make Amsterdam and I think most of the music press agrees with me looking at all the great press 'Arm In Arm' has deservedly received. So do yourself a favour and order a copy of 'Arm In Arm' today!