The Drums, "Summertime!" 01/30/2010
By Brendan Harte Gilsenan
✭✭✭
Mixing American Graffiti with a hint of 80’s new wave, this Brooklyn quartet revives the juvenile subject matters of 1950’s and 60’s rock ‘n’ roll. The Drums’ debut EP is appropriately titled Summertime!, as it deals with the trials and tribulations faced by any teenager who has nothing to do during the summer but surf, chase girls, and spend hours each and every night driving up and down the local strip.
Their lead single, “Let’s Go Surfing”, seems to wrap up the band’s mentality throughout the EP - Oh woman, I wanna go surfing/Oh woman, I don’t care about nothing. Setting aside real life responsibilities, the Drums are giving into their teenage summer desires. Lead vocalist, Jonathon Pierce, often sings about seeing his crush holding the hand of another man, or feeling stupid for embarrassing himself in front of said crush one way or another.
After a number of up-tempo, jumpy tunes, the EP peaks with its stand out track, “Down By The Water”. While maintaining the beach theme, this song offers a depth similar to music created just as the Beach Boys started putting the surf rock aside for more meaningful material. If for nothing else, the release of this EP was completely worth it for the inclusion of this track alone.
All in all, the Drums do a successful job reviving a light-hearted sound and approach to music that has been missing for quite a while. Whether or not this genre will lead to longevity will be seen. But for now, unless it deals with girls, surfing, or those summer nights, I doubt they care.
1. Saddest Summer
2. Let’s Go Surfing
3. Make You Mine
4. Don’t Be A Jerk, Jonny
5. Submarine
6. Down By The Water
✭✭✭
Mixing American Graffiti with a hint of 80’s new wave, this Brooklyn quartet revives the juvenile subject matters of 1950’s and 60’s rock ‘n’ roll. The Drums’ debut EP is appropriately titled Summertime!, as it deals with the trials and tribulations faced by any teenager who has nothing to do during the summer but surf, chase girls, and spend hours each and every night driving up and down the local strip.
Their lead single, “Let’s Go Surfing”, seems to wrap up the band’s mentality throughout the EP - Oh woman, I wanna go surfing/Oh woman, I don’t care about nothing. Setting aside real life responsibilities, the Drums are giving into their teenage summer desires. Lead vocalist, Jonathon Pierce, often sings about seeing his crush holding the hand of another man, or feeling stupid for embarrassing himself in front of said crush one way or another.
After a number of up-tempo, jumpy tunes, the EP peaks with its stand out track, “Down By The Water”. While maintaining the beach theme, this song offers a depth similar to music created just as the Beach Boys started putting the surf rock aside for more meaningful material. If for nothing else, the release of this EP was completely worth it for the inclusion of this track alone.
All in all, the Drums do a successful job reviving a light-hearted sound and approach to music that has been missing for quite a while. Whether or not this genre will lead to longevity will be seen. But for now, unless it deals with girls, surfing, or those summer nights, I doubt they care.
1. Saddest Summer
2. Let’s Go Surfing
3. Make You Mine
4. Don’t Be A Jerk, Jonny
5. Submarine
6. Down By The Water
