Review: The Drums - Encyclopedia
By Xavier Veccia, Managing Editor
[Minor; 2014]
Rating: 5/10
Key Tracks: "Face of God," "I Hope Time Doesn't Change Him"
We’ve all had those nights when we put on some comfy clothes, curled up in bed and blasted insert sad song here. Whether that be The Smiths, Three Days Grace or The Weeknd, we’ve all been there. For Jonny Pierce and Jacob Graham of The Drums, though, it seems those days come all too often.
The Drums started off just fine. Their self-titled debut album had a surf rock influence on a typical indie rock formula that led the LP to critical acclaim. Portamento, the group’s second album, was just as successful (and some would say better) despite a much more melancholy mood. There was something alluring about the band’s simple lyrics and funky bass lines that one couldn’t help but to relate to the downer duo.
Three years later, it seems The Drums have done nothing but sulk since their last album, making their newest release Encyclopedia dull, dreary and just plain depressing.
One of the biggest issues with Encyclopedia strangely comes from one of the strengths from The Drums’ earlier discography--Pierce’s voice.
Early on in The Drums’ career, Pierce’s distinctly strained voice was perfect for the joyful shouts in “Let’s Go Surfing” or the confusion and heartbreak of “Hard to Love.” Now it seems Pierce has lost his mojo.
“Break My Heart” is a good starting point for this discussion. On one of the more bleakly named songs of the album, Pierce sounds unmotivated as he sings, “I sing a melody / That we used to sing.” Ironic, considering these melodies are hardly what Pierce used to belt out.
Pierce’s monotonous voice drones on for most of the album in a similar manner to how it sounds on Portamento, but with less conviction. “There Is Nothing Left” is a decent song with that vintage Drums surf-rock feel, but it would sound leagues better if Pierce is as entertaining as he has been in the past.
While there are many areas where The Drums stay static, there are still some portions of Encyclopedia that show some change for the duo. The only issue is it doesn’t always work.
On “Face of God,” change does work for Pierce and Graham, as Pierce finally shows some chutzpa during the powerful chorus of, “I saw the face of god / He showed me how to live / I threw it back at him,” over the fierce and angry guitar melody. Here, The Drums are more rebellious than glum and it provides a much-needed boost in the middle of the record.
However, lead single “Magic Mountain” sees the duo trying a more psychedelic, trippy path that, although new, feels too forced and out of their range to make much of an impression.
Encyclopedia does have some bright spots even in the darkness, such as the electropop single “I Can’t Pretend” or the gloomy but groovy “I Hope Time Doesn’t Change Him.”
It seems The Drums’ beat has gotten too slow to keep up with. They should just turn off the Morrissey and get outside a little more.
