Formed in 2006 in Brooklyn, N.Y., American indie pop band The Drums released their second album “Portamento” on Sept. 2, 2011, just a little over a year after their first full-length, self-titled album.
Vocalist Jonathan Pierce, guitarist Jacob Graham, bassist Myles Matheny and drummer Connor Hanwick put this 12-track LP together. The entirety of the album has the stench of a man pleading for psychological dilemmas, but that is not to say that they do not pair their lyrics with amazingly catchy riffs and sounds similar to The Smiths’ gloom.
Drawing away from the themes of their first album, The Drums’ angst is clearly drawn from girlfriends who have left, psycho ex-band members and emotional animosity. Pierce has been quoted that he wrote the lyrics for their first album as if he was a decade younger and that is what the true difference in the words between the two come from.
It is safe to say that the opener of the album, “Book of Revelations,” jolts any listener to be intrigued by the songs to follow. The hoppy crash of guitar riffs, bustling bass and repeated clapping paired with the cooing of Pierce is undeniably catchy to any person in favor of hipster-esque indie rhythms.
“Days,” the second track of the album, is lathered in oohs and ahs matched with self-pity lyrics and cries of what could have been. This track is strikingly similar to anthems by indie rock wonders The Strokes and the leading cries by head honcho Julian Casablancas.
Track three, “What You Were,” brings out the true poppy side that The Drums bleed out consistently in their music while adding in some bouncy house ’80s-style beats. This song precedes the album’s single “Money” better than any other song on the album would have. “Money” is a pessimistic anthem that swirls hints of Jacob Graham from The Smiths and Morrisey mixed in with a full-speed beat.
Tracks four and five on “Portamento,” are in all honesty the two tracks on the album that would more than likely never make it on a good playlist. Titled “Hard to Love” and “I Don’t Know How To Love,” any non-tacky person would instantly realize that the names of these songs alone are rather nauseating. Needless to say, unless you are looking for ideal “wallowing in heartbroken self-pity” songs, these two tracks are best suited for the fast-forward button.
“Searching for Heaven,” another song off the album, should be placed in the “wallowing in heartbroken self-pity” category, but the synth beats and shrill vocals are strangely appealing and entertaining. Hands down, the lyrics to this track are the whiniest and would compete with any other over-dramatic ballad, but everybody has their favorite “feel-sorry-for-yourself” song and this could potentially be a new favorite.
“Please Don’t Leave” is a revival track for the remainder of the LP. Granted the woeful lyrics still remain, but the appealing head-bobbing beats have returned. “If He Likes Him Let Him Do It” begins with some off kilter guitar strumming that carries on throughout the entirety of the three minutes and 51 seconds of the song. The song is reminiscent to a song that could potentially be played in a horror movie or on repeat in a haunted house. At one point it seems as if Pierce is making up his own version of a “do re mi” style of cooing.
“In the Cold” is a slower, tender-hearted song that reveals a different side of The Drums than the rest of this album has portrayed. It is a positive alteration and a peaceful way to wind down the album. Though still lyrically heartbreaking, the song finally makes you want to reach out to Pierce rather than slap him out of his self-misery.
There could not be a more appropriate ending to an album than a song titled “How it Ended.” This song gives the listener a slight feeling of hope for the future albums of The Drums to be less self-wallowing and bring back some joy into the lyrics.
The Drums’ new album is a definite listen to for those feeling the less-than-pleasant side effects of the end of a relationship, whether it is a romantic or platonic one. But if you’re looking for something more optimistic, this album is not for you. Don’t be discouraged though; give it a listen and see what The Drums can do for you.
