Strap in, I really like this album.

If you’ve been around me or read my posts, then you know that The Drums are one of my favorite bands. Ever since randomly hearing “Magic Mountain” from their album Encyclopedia I’ve been hooked. That was 2013, the group started off as a duo, Jonny and Jacob. Jacob left after Encyclopedia, and Jonny continued as The Drums and didn’t take his foot off the gas at all. I’ve already written about Brutalism, and here we are in 2024 with Jonny. I had no idea what to expect with this one. It honestly just flew under my radar with the singles and the promotion. I listened to it at work, distracted. So I didn’t really digest what I was hearing, plus it was hard to recommend this to people because the original cover art was just Jonny’s ass. Kind of hard to share that to your friends when they’re immediately greeted by man ass. Regardless of what cover you see, there are some gems on this one, and it just might be my favorite project The Drums have released to this date.

This album starts off really strong. “I Want It All” immediately grabs you with this persistent, reverbed bass riff with some lead guitar chords sprinkled in, too. Jonny sings over them about turning a blind eye to a hesitant lover. He questions if they ever loved him in the first place. This is all before the drums even come in, and send the song into another universe. This song sounds like longing and despair, with a little bow wrapped around it. You could dance to this if you wanted to, but you’d be missing the overall point. That is a great overarching theme with this entire album. This album is depressing, but not “I’m gonna end it all” depressing, but that depression where you’re waiting for things to get better. You might be mad at yourself because it should be so easy to break out of this funk, but you just can’t. That immediately goes into “Isolette” as well. Jonny is now in the stage of grieving a relationship where he’s just lost, but he’s sure his ex will get over him, but he can’t and doesn’t feel comfortable throwing himself back out there just yet. Then, we get to “Better” and this marks my favorite stretch of songs. From “Better” to “Be Gentle” I’m hooked. Every songs leads into one another with a fluidity that’s almost unmatched and if you’re not paying attention, you won’t even realize that the next song is playing. On “Better” Jonny sings about how he still want his ex, but in isolation, he’s finding himself and putting his heart and health first for the first time.

If the first four songs were about a failed relationship, then “Harms” to “Protect Him Always” is about a rocky childhood, I don’t even feel right calling it “rocky,” either. Jonny’s childhood was beyond that. The album and single covers were all shot at his childhood home, and he described that the process was healing for him and helped him make peace with the past. “Harms” is a haunting, truly chilling song. Over very minimal instrumentation, literally just some bass notes and a choir repeating “killing, killing, killing” over and over again. Jonny extends his hands out to all the kids just like him. The kids who grew up not being loved by the one person you’re supposed to be able to depend on. Jonny sees this upbringing reflected in his adult life and sees it literally everywhere. At the end of the song the tempo ramps up and you’re bombarded by these kick drums that crescendo right into “Little Jonny” which is my third favorite song on here. It speaks to that scared little kid that lives in my spirit, now this is obviously Jonny talking to his younger self, but it strikes a cord in me. This is another minimalist track. There’s an 808 (?), a synth chime and a synth pad lurking around in the background. This puts most of your attention directly on Jonny’s voice and demands you listen. “Plastic Envelope” is beyond sad, I can’t take it sometimes. This one breaks the theme to go back to failing relationship. The other person is growing more and more distant and Jonny feels more alone now than ever. What does it for me more than anything on this one is the hook. The drums are this steady loop, but the snare really stands out and when the loop restarts the tempo gets upped and if you’re not doing the air drums then you’re insane.

That track leads right into “Protect Him Always,” a little too seamlessly. You know how What’s Going On? by Marvin Gaye was essentially one big piece that was turned into individual songs later? That’s what it feels like. My number one favorite song on here is “Be Gentle.” This song randomly came on shuffle after I had just left the bar and I was just sitting in my car, dumbfounded by how vulnerable and emotional the song sounded. You’re grabbed by the words, but the groove is undeniable. My favorite part is Jonny harmonizing at the end accompanied by some guitar chords and a metronome.

Okay I’m almost at a thousand words so let’s ramp it up, eh? Okay, “Obvious” is such a sick song. I absolutely the adore the part where the beat drops out and it’s just Jonny’s voice, the guitar and the bass so you can really feel how lovesick he is over this person. Trust me, this part over car speakers is the best thing ever. “Pool God” is one of those songs you love, but to someone either super casual or totally uninformed, it’s just whatever. But for those of us who have been here it’s a major highlight. I have no idea why its called “Pool God“, but what I do know is that Jonny recorded this on a synthesizer he’s had since he was 13. Going with the theme of this album being directly inspired by his childhood, how cool is that? It’s like his younger self and present self collaborating on a track.

If you actually read this, I thank you. None of my reviews have a lot of structure, they’re more just streams of consciousness. I play the album front to back over and over again and type whatever thoughts I have. So I really appreciate people reading some words. You’ll find something you like on this album I guarantee it. Even it takes some time like it did for me, just take it for a spin. Hit me up when you do, too. Yeah, you have homework.

Listen to Jonny here

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