Rating: NNN
Adulthood’s sobering realities cast a sombre cloud over sunny-day soundtrackers the Drums’ enjoyable sophomore effort, which finds the NYC trio tempering their effusive pop hooks and urgent 80s indie-style riffs with increasingly introspective songwriting – a well-worn pop formula that they nail.
Singer Johnny Pierce’s angst is believable, though he sounds best when holding back a bit, as on the warmly harmonious What You Were, the falsetto-inflected Money and the gently melodic How It Ended. Things get awkward on the more straight-up electronic moments: Searching For Heaven’s swirling analog synths compete too hard with its whiny melody, for example. But generally, the electronics nicely underscore the lyrics’ and music’s soul-searching. As the title suggests, the band is evolving gradually rather than in dramatic swells.
Top track: What You Were
