Single Review: The Drums – Money
The Drums have now started talking up their second album, ‘Portamento’, to be out on 12 September on Moshi Moshi. Our first taste of the new material comes in the form of single ‘Money’, just leaked to media this week (it will see its official release as a single on the 5th of September). It’s so often joked by reviewers – and indeed, even by the bands themselves – that the second album is always “difficult”, so I was wondering where this band would go for album #2. And remember, physically they’ve changed: they lost a limb (guitarist Adam Kessler) during their autumn North American tour last year. But they appear to have bounced back without so much as a scratch: as of May 2011 they’ve picked up Chris Stein and Myles Matheny (also of Violens) to round out their live personnel to a nice five-piece.
So what do I make of ‘Money’? After interviewing singer Jonathan Pierce and drummer Connor Hanwick when they were in Washington last September, it was infinitely clear to me from the visual influences on their music make this band much, much more complex than their first toe in the music scene, ‘Let’s Go Surfing’. What’s still present: upbeat tempo ala ‘Let’s Go Surfing’, driving guitar and a quasi-falsetto from Pierce. What’s new: maybe it’s just on this one track, but I’m expecting ‘Portomento’ to be very different. Instead of running around in jeans, trying to go to the beach, this time they’re willing to trade nonexistent cars and guns to buy their love something special. Have they matured? This single seems to indicate this. However, they haven’t gone 180 degrees on us, which is a good thing. ‘Money’ shows the Drums still know how to pen a catchy tune.
8/10
The Drums’ newest single, ‘Money’, will be released on the 5th of September, with the new album ‘Portomento’ released a week later, the 12th of September, on Moshi Moshi.
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