Harlem Shakes, Arms, Thunder & Lightning [monday Threesome]

Welcome to another installment of Monday Threesome, your weekly hit of free music! It’s a family affair for this selection, with each group tied to Brooklyn’s Harlem Shakes. Though the band is no longer together, much of their music is still available for free, and former members have all continued with stellar projects of their own.

Todd Goldstein, the guitarist from Harlem Shakes, recorded under this moniker for years as a solo project, but recently added additional members to augment the sound and performance. Arms (@armsongs) has a lo-fi, indie rock feel, but produces music with a full, fleshed-out sound, putting in mind bands such as Women or The Walkmen. Most importantly, though, Goldstein is an excellent songwriter, crafting songs with clear, moving vocals that rise amidst the noisier guitars and keyboards. Though the band’s current EP is available for free on Bandcamp, Goldstein’s older, solo material is available to purchase on iTunes.

Drummer Brent Katz also has a solo project, Thunder & Lightning (@tandlightning), and his November 2010 album Kangaroo Court is available for pay what you wish on Bandcamp. The music features clear production and piano heavy arrangements, bringing to mind an indie-rock kid who was raised on Broadway music or Tin Pan Alley melodies. The combination of catchy pop with intricate chord progressions and hooks reveals the intelligence in songwriting — not to mention the way they blend perfectly with the animations that play on his Bandcamp page.

Strictly Game – Harlem Shakes

Filled with bubbling arrangements, the title for the Harlem Shakes lone album, Technicolor Health, is the perfect representation of their vibrant music. The songs themselves sound like a mixture of Arms and Thunder & Lightning – catchy Broadway melodies, but with the rockier vibe of Goldstein’s project. Lexy Benaim, the lead vocalist, has a slightly more nasal, punchier voice than the two bands above, but it’s clear that this group was an amazing meshing of each member’s particular musical style.