The Drums

A few years back, there was a band called Elkland. The members were all from the US, but somehow they were able to perfectly channel the best of the A-ha, Erasure, Bronski Beat, etc. Their best track, Everybody's Leaving, could easily have been mistaken for an original 80s synthpop lost gem. Luckily, although some time has passed, the members have not all gone on to coulda-been/shoulda been status. The lead singer has re-emerged with a new band: The Drums.

The Drums' first single, (video below) "Let's Go Surfing," is out now and it is a bonafide earworm. Much like Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks," the track utilizes the power of the simple whistle as its real hook, and then proceeds to bores its way into skull. But unlike PBnJ which aged particularly quickly, the rest of this track is so well crafted that I can't see that happening here. For me, this track is so formidably based in the art of a simple rock song, that it just stands up much better. It doesn't rely so heavily on the strength of the instantly recognizable whistle, but instead takes it's real strength from the rest of the song's clean and straight forward pop music craftsmanship. More reminiscent of the Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson than their common indie rock peers, The Drums could actually be one of 2009's greatest newcomers.

Maybe Elkland's demise was worthwhile after all.



Download "Let's Go Surfing" and other tracks at RCRDLBL now.

Radiohead

Just a heads up, there's a new Radiohead song available now as a free download from the w.a.s.t.e. site. I just grabbed it, but have yet to listen. Figured I'd tip you off anyway though.

Radiohead- These Are My Twisted Words

Major Lazer

It's been awhile since I have posted a hate post. Let's do that now.

I figure I should note this one as you probably hear it out and about, and it's gotten plenty of attention. It's been kicking around awhile, but I am just getting around to posting.

Just reading the "bio" on Major Lazer, makes me cringe. And, correct, I am not a fan of most of the people involved with the project (Diplo/Mad Decent), but even looking at this track from a simple musical perspective, it just doesn't jive. The homages/allusions are at best obvious, and at worst trite. Worse than that, because of the attempts to pull from immediate touchstones like Lil Wayne's "A Milli" as well as the base levels of dancehall, and the necessary Hot Female vocal (by very current still, Santi of Santigold), all make this an effort in laziness. And it's this laziness that I think will also doom this track to very poor aging. Listen to this in a year and tell me it stands the test of time. I'm going with probably not.

Major Lazer- Hold the Line (DJ Edit)

Add to all of the above, the video which looks to mimic all of the French pop art Ed Banger cover art, and it just all smells of a half-hearted pastiche trying to cash in on anything that people who are just outside of the loop won't know any better than to like.



Give me Ce'cile's "Hot Like We" over this any day.