The Drums - The Drums (downtown records)

I must admit, at the first and second listen from a friend's referral, I could not get into this record. Most likely this was due to the overall repetitiveness of the album, but I promised myself to give it another chance. In today's day and age where music is pretty much "free," by most people, the fact that someone actually gives an album 3 chances is asking a lot, but I try my best to give at least 3 listens, because in my day, if you spent $18 on a CD you were going to listen to it for months and get you moneys worth, even if it sucked.

Well, this definitely does not suck. The Drums album dug its way in my brain by the third listen. The standout track that got my attention was the beautiful, "Down by the Water," and its sing a long chorus, and 50's style chord progression. This band excels in writing simple single note guitar lines, and catchy choruses with some occasional synth parts thrown over fast drum patterns.

Other keys tracks are, "I need fun in my life" which I can imagine fitting perfectly in a John Hughes teen movie, "We Tried," and "Forever and Ever Amen," which is the most "cure-esque" on the record, with its traveling guitar melodies and catchy chorus about "running till the end of time."

The Score: 7.3
The Math: early New Order x early Cure = The Drums

Old Amica - For A Second EP (KNOPPAR)

Hailing from Sweden, "Old Amica," is two man band that prides itself on making music with the powers of the internet. I was lucky enough to be contacted by this band to give them a review of their second EP, appropriately titled, "For A Second EP."

The album opens with "At Sea," a ghostly vocal over a strumming acoustic guitar and electronic loops. Clocking in under 2 minutes, it is more of an intro to set you up for the mood of the album...mellow. This is a very wintry record with layered vocal harmonies and a "less is more," attitude in the musicianship which I like. Think "Kings of Convenience," or "Fleet Foxes," with some loops and samples in there. The 2nd track "Weekdays," starts out again on the mellow side, but has a nice pickup toward the middle with more loops, and a nice electric guitar. The band's vocal harmonies sound great, not too drenched in reverb, but enough to go with the dreamy atmosphere.

My favorite tracks are "Moon," with a surprising female vocal makes its appearance to add a little more texture to the album and of course, "Operation Table," which has the best hook. If there were any doubt of a "single" on this record, this would be it. The chorus is superb in its simplicity, with its video game sounds mimicking the vocal melody and the violen-esque guitar sweeping in the background.

The rest of the disc moves the same way, layered volume swells, ethereal keys, acoustic strums and the moody vocal harmonies. "Old Amica," is great at righting and producing ambient songs, nicely done.

http://oldamica.tumblr.com/info

The Score: 7 out of 10 bells
The Math: Fleet Foxes x and Atari Console = For A Second EP