The Drums - The Drums (Moshi Moshi/Island)

The Drums' sound is pretty generic. Drum machines, soaring synths, loopy guitar lines and very repetitive bass. You can pretty much take this formula and copy paste 12 times to make up The Drums' self-titled debut. Though repetitive, The Drums have a knack to make some pretty fun and catchy songs that you might accidentally find yourself singing along to.

The song structures of The Drums is so painfully pop that maybe it's to pop. Basic lyrics, instrumentation and a catchy intake makes for a perfect chart topper on the pop lists. Sadly The Drums won't be making any pop charts with songs from The Drums. Though it isn't all bad. The guitar solo on "Me and the Moon" is surprising change from the jangly soaring synths that surround the rest of the song. "Down By the Water" sounds like a prom night favorite and the singing on "Skippin' Town" is one of the best performances on the LP.

The idea works on some parts. Simple melodic tunes gets you so far, but in The Drums' case, not very far at all. Playing one song after another, The Drums all sounds the same. The drum machine might have been a bad decision for The Drums' choice of percussion, but at least it creates a signature sound that The Drums are known for. The one choice that The Drums did make that I do like is the use of heavy reverb in the vocals. The reverb creates a kind of very spacey, open environment of music that sounds a lot like The Doors' debut.

Surprisingly catchy tunes and very repetitive music makes up The Drums. The songwriting is pretty bland and to innocent, especially in the jangly "I Need Fun In My Life". The Drums are simply the definition for indie pop. Sadly the lack of diversity drags The Drums down to a somewhat mediocre level.

Overall: 7.1/10

Track Listing:

1. Best Friend - 7.0
2. Me and the Moon - 7.0
3. Let's Go Surfing - 7.5
4. Book of Stories - 7.5
5. Skippin' Town - 8.0
6. Forever and Ever Amen - 7.5
7. Down By the Water - 7.5
8. It Will End In Tears - 6.5
9. We Tried - 7.0
10. I Need Fun In My Life - 6.5
11. I'll Never Drop My Sword - 7.0
12. The Future - 7.0

Sample: