Rating: NN
Enjoyment of the Drums depends partly on how much of a role you think originality should play in music. Juxtaposing winsome 50s pop against 80s post-punk scored the Brooklyn band a lot of blog buzz, but the sound loses its novelty when stretched over a full album. Less creators than curators, they fill their debut LP with easily traceable signposts – some Johnny Marr guitar here, some Joy Division drums there – and call it a day.
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Despite its calculation, the album does contain some legitimately fun, catchy moments. It’s easy to see, for instance, why Let’s Go Surfing’s memory-sticking chorus burned up HypeMachine, while Best Friend’s smirk-inducing “You were my best friend and then you died” lyric plays well against the New Order arrangement. But after about the fourth track, Jonathan Pierce’s anglo-aping croon begins to grate. Works better on MP3 than on record.
Top track: I Wanna Go Surfing
The Drums play Saturday (October 16) at the Mod Club.
