The Drums - "Summertime!"

Summer will soon be over but The Drums and their debut EP Summertime! instantly brings you right back into the surf and sun. The Drums are Jonathan Pierce of the disbanded major label act Elkland and Jacob Graham of Horse Shoes. They fuse their love of New Order and new wave with 1950’s surf music into a fantastically infectious debut.

The opening song “Saddest Summer” makes a splash with tinny guitars and bass, a hop-scotch beat and the contrast between the gloomy, Factory Records sound and a sweet and catchy vocal melody. “Let’s Go Surfing” is so catchy an amnesiac would still remember it! Not only is the chorus catchy but the whistled melody is even more memorable and there is a playful, school-yard jump rope breakdown on this standout track. An echoing high falsetto on the verse of “Make You Mine” is reminiscent of 50’s crooners and includes a stomp and clap beat and another catchy whistling hook. Much like the theme of the album, “Don’t Be a Jerk, Johnny” is care-free and fun as a duet with a female counterpart pleading the song’s title as singer Jonathan defends himself singing, “It’s out of love” as the female snarks back: “No it’s not.”; all of this over bubbling synths and a Joy Division-like guitar melody. “Submarine” focuses more on their dark romantic 80’s pop influences but adds in some Beach Boys-esque background vocals to great effect. The last song, “Down By The Water” is a beach blanket ballad reminiscent of a more innocent era with a soaring melody and great harmonies.

Summertime! is catchy and nostalgic and clearly one of the best debuts of the year. Look for their full-length early next year.

Download "Let's Go Surfing" here: http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/Drums%20-%20Lets%20Go%20Surfing.mp3 (via Pitchfork)

Go here to download more songs from The Drums: http://www.rcrdlbl.com/artists/The_Drums/music

For more info click here: www.wearethedrums.com and www.twentysevenrecords.com and www.myspace.com/thedrums