In 2009 the Drums snuck into the public consciousness with their infectious debut single “Let’s Go Surfing.” Their fresh amalgamation of post-punk bass tones and Beach Boy’s harmonies led them to be the most Shazamed artist of 2009, but a lot has changed for the New York group in the following decade.
The Drums new record, Brutalism, marks the second solo project of the former duo and the remaining Drum, Johnny Pierce’s fifth album is his most personal yet. Brutalism is a work of creative self-care for Pierce, who explores a painful divorce and a lonely stint living in Los Angeles in the record’s nine tracks. It’s still a pop record at its core like the group’s previous releases, but this time around the lyrics are raw and heartsick. Musically it should be familiar to the Drum’s fans, but Pierce is clearly evolving and shedding some of the youthful nostalgia that defined their earlier work.
–Ryan Wen
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Host: Laurie Gallardo
Engineer: Jake Perlman
Producer: Deidre Gott
Cameras: Gabriel C. Pérez, Michael Minasi
Edit: Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon (Body Chemistry)
Edit: Michael Minasi (626 Bedford Ave. & Loner)
