After a break I
am back to writing lengthy album reviews. This time we finally get to the other
side of the pond to take a look at the weird and bittersweet new album by the
American band The Drums, titled “Encyclopedia”. It was released in September
via Minor Records...
The Drums are an
American indie rock band, currently formally consisting of only two people – best
friends since age 12, multiinstrumentalist Jacob Graham and vocalist Jonny
Pierce. The band emerged in the slumpy indie scene of Brooklyn in 2009 and
quickly made their way into the spotlight with easy-going, relaxed dream
pop/surf pop, bringing the summertime feels, when you're young, in love, and don’t
care for tomorrow. Later on, they took a somewhat more serious look and more
bittersweet lyricism with their sophomore album “Portamento” that was released
in 2011. Channelling the sound of The Smiths, Joy Division, New Order and
various other British and American bands, the band have been however presenting
something unique and true. Nevertheless, after completing the last tour, they
ditched all the members except for the founding duo of Jacob Graham and Jonny
Pierce. As they state in their latest interviews, the two went “wild” to make a
more open, more aggressive, more honest album. The album, called “Encyclopedia”
sees the band depart from their (perceived to be) laid back attitude even more,
and bravely diving into more experimental waters, or, perhaps, should I say,
climbing up steeper mountains? Mountains, after all, are a recurring theme
throughout this album. So, here we are, enough descriptions, let the music tell
what matters the most!
First song is
the one everyone first heard off the record – “Magic Mountain”, and it starts,
actually, with weird delay and reverb tricks, then go the high-pitched vocals
by Jonny Pierce. He fiercely sings the chorus, and after the first chorus,
things go even wilder, with various electronic tricks here and there, then,
well, maybe it is only me, but I was pretty much sure it is about to end, but,
surprise surprise, here comes another chorus! Sounds, overall, like an
experimental rock song. But is that bad anyway? There is this video, directed
by The Drums themselves, and it is so good, you know that I enjoyed when Jack
from TNP wore those costumes, so, here is Jonny in one, and even with a sword.
Cool, really.
The second song,
“I Can’t Pretend” is an easy favourite of mine off the album.
Never-to-be-wiped-out-off-my-brain synth melody and kind of simple post-punk
drums. The guitar only adds the emotion. The lyrics are just too much for me...
“It’s too hard to begin, when you know it will end” – says Jonny. “And if you’ve
got a friend, you better leave with him” – he continues. “I know that I need
love, but I can’t pretend” – the central theme of the song. “Remember when you
first touched my hand, we sparkled inside at the same time” – once again, could
anyone ever say it better? Synth, nevertheless, does not let me get lost. And
guitar helps to carry on this journey. I even have a hard time deciding, where
is the chorus and where is the verse, it all goes in circles, then it all goes
into swooning lands, even more electronics, and iconic words “I see us high,
high on mountain, I see us die, dying on a mountain”. Soul-piercing, even
though maybe too much electronics.
The third song –
“I Hope Time Doesn’t Change Him”. It goes off with Kraftwerk-y synths, but then
heads off to a more 80s sound. Bass and weird guitar, reverbed drums. Reminds
me of MGMT. Warming feeling in the chorus. Maybe even like Joy Division. A very
bass-dominated song, nevertheless. However, a bit too repetitive. But the warm
synth in the end is so nice.
Fourth song – “Kiss
Me Again”. Psychedelic wonder at first sight, then goes a bit more normal way.
Very strange song, actually. With a dark undertone. Sort of reminds of The
Smiths. Very post punk, with those 80s electronics. However, a frightening 60s
vibe is here too. A lot of vocals in the end, layers upon layers of vocals,
dive out of the electronic swamp. “Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me”
and Jonny’s voice goes up. Creepy, to be honest. Perhaps the happiest song on
the record.
And then comes
song five, called “Let Me”. Very upbeat, fast. Very post-punk (again), very
much like Joy Division, but with a more modern take on electronics. Very dark,
the chorus is very energetic yet horrifying. “And they might hate you, but I
love you” – says Pierce in a bittersweet tone. “Let me, let me see who you are”
– he adds. Reminds a little bit of “Money” in the end, but this is more
diverse. The bridge is all-electronic, vocal samples here and there. The song
is perhaps the most anthemic of all on this album, carrying a strong and
distinct message, being about sex change and homophobia. Vibrant and squeezing.
That deep boiling synth. One of the better songs on the record, yet dark.
The sixth song
is “Break My Heart”. Nice drums, The Drums! Reverbed synth in the distance. “Break
my heart, break my heart, break it and make it hurt”, old school pop, a bit
more cheerful, soft bass, compared to the post-punk-y songs before. Comparing
to “Let Me”, it is very slow and hushed. The music might even sound happy, if
not cheerful, but lyrics prove it wrong. The end is very MGMT. Oh, I’m pathetic
for comparing bands!
The seventh song
is called “Face Of God”. It is again fast. Guitar work. Very post punk after
all (again and again). Angry lyrics and that bass. Reminds of something so
familiar, yet not to be remembered. Maybe that is how originals are. Sounds
like desperation, smothering you. Dark feel. Jonny takes on his atheistic
standpoint, following the likes of Nietzsche. “I saw the face of God, he told
me how to live, I threw it back at him, threw it back at him” – declares
Pierce. By mentioning God, after all, he seemingly means his father, a pastor.
Hard to imagine the same band playing so different things, like dark guitar-led
songs, like this, and mellow synth-driven songs. Reminds me of “Insight” or “Interzone”
by Joy Division, quiet rage.
The eight song
is titled “U.S. National Park”. A bit of a return to the early sound? Or am I
mistaken, well, maybe... Nice interplay of guitars, warm. Even the vocals, just
like on “Hope Time Doesn’t Change Him” remind me of MGMT. “I don’t want to die
alone by the campfire”, yeah, very cheerful indeed. Even weirder – it sounds
very happy, the approach of The Smiths – sweet tunes and dark lyrics. Reminds
me of childhood. Those quirky moments in it.
The ninth song
is “Deep in My Heart”. It is fast and strong again. Sounds a bit like new
Interpol, post-punk revival. There is a tendency – after a fast song comes a
slower, more pop one, and then we go again with a harder take. "I buried
you deep in my heart" – sings Jonny in the chorus, this song somehow is
one of the most relatable for me. Reminds me of their early songs.
The tenth song
is called “Bell Laboratories”. Lonely synth notes. Add a beat now. Sounds
refreshing after the last song. Nice guitar and deep bass. Even piano here,
wow. The song becomes more and more full. Beautiful and simple guitar. Weird,
but wonderful guitar. Repetitive lyrics, “Get back in my car, get back in my
car, get back in my car, but I ran so fast”, mumbles Jonny, they kind of make
me think of a of a story, when one says to another that text, and the other
tries to run away. Once again, marvellous, as experimental as the opener, I
should add. A dark, deep song, really stands out.
The eleventh
song is called “There is Nothing Left”. It is warm, sweet, yet with extremely
dark lyrics, however. Synth bass. Awesome guitar at the start. Sounds a bit 70s
or 80s. A bit like "I can't pretend". The end is unexpected with some
deep beats. The Drums avoid being boring, when there is such a risk in the air
somewhere.
The last song, “Wild
Geese”, starts with synths, then goes the beat and the bass, a lot of bass.
Once again, this song is as emotional, as any The Drums song ever. The start,
to go on with that Joy Division comparison, one could think of “Decades”, but
soon, this song appears to be radically different. Perhaps, the most poetic
song of all, surprisingly enough, it has been written not by Jonny, who usually
writes all the lyrics, but by the other half of The Drums, Jacob. Soul-piercing
to say the least. So simple, yet so emotional. “I put my hands inside my
pockets and wish that I were them” – this here is what I always feel like! “But
if you stay close to me, like wild geese, that fly through the thunder” – so
wonderful. A long instrumental part. And, to end the record on a higher note,
here are some synthesisers. Nice way to end.
So, what can I
say, after one listen? The album is really interesting, emotional, warming, yet
thoughtful, the kind of art, that reminds you of yourself a bit, not to sink in
and forget, but to relive your experiences maybe looking at it through a
different lens and to imagine yourself as someone else. The lyrics and
especially the music gives so much feelings, like an encyclopedia, but maybe
that is because they said it should? You turn the pages, and new things emerge
in front of you, like when I was a child and I loved to read encyclopedias,
waiting for the next pages, what will it show me? Some songs though come off a
bit too reminiscent of something already heard, a bit too many old ideas, even
though presented with new things. I guess, the reason why people tend to
discard this record, is the same reason, why so many thought the latest album
by MGMT came off a bit flat here and there, as it did not have “Kids” and “Time
To Pretend”, and, in the case of The Drums, no summer feelings and light
nostalgic breeze. But who would blame Talk Talk for “Laughing Stock”? Not that
I am comparing this sort of shift to the changes in The Drums, but still. But,
well, maybe one ought to listen with no preconceived categories in one's mind,
like “oh, The Drums, so, surf rock, indie pop”, then it would not be so
disappointing? It is sad, that people tend to categorise things so heavily they
miss the point of the music itself by measuring everything every single moment
against a yardstick they have put hope into. My fault in this review is, again,
building my conclusions on genres and constantly checking what I hear with what
I think a certain type of music most often sounds. But, I think, it is somewhat
a wrong approach, as music is not that easy to understand. Of course, one needs
some reference points if one is to write about music, one needs to be aware of
the past and so on, but maybe we go too far with those comparisons? Maybe, who
knows. Overall, this album is warming and comforting, not empty. Not shallow,
but somehow it is a bit closer to us, listeners, than previous albums by The
Drums. Maybe, with regards to categories, we should stop calling The Drums “surf
pop” or something like that and take them for who they are? They are far more.
The Drums:
Get “Encyclopedia”
here:
Listen to
singles “Magic Mountain” and “I Can’t Pretend” here:
