Last summer, Brooklyn retro-pop rockers The Drums released their self-titled debut LP and we here at Speakers in Code lauded the quartet and their record, very much enjoying the new-wavey, post-punky sound of the new band. A year later, the group has endured a lineup change, toured relentlessly, and offered up their follow up effort, Portamento (9/12 – Frenchkiss). There’s no sophomore slump here, as Portamento, and lead single “Money” find the band continuing to hone their razor sharp brand of synthed out, eighties-inspired rock and roll laced with grim lyrical motifs.
“Money” is a brilliantly despondent love song that takes a sanguine subject and injects it with the morose themes of impending death, violence, sadness, more death, limited resources, and frustration. Vocalist Jonathan Pierce drones; “Before I die, I’d like to do something nice. Take my hand and I’ll take you for a ride. You hit me yesterday because I made you cry. So before we die, let me do something nice. I want to buy you something but I don’t have any money. No I don’t have any money.”
Check out “Money” below. Help Pierce & Co. get some, by purchasing Portamento here.