Fusing the best 80's guitar pop with New York new wave emotion, The Drums debut album is the ideal soundtrack to the summer.
Opening track 'Best Friend, kicks proceedings off in fine style with Jonathan Pierce's  wispy vocal style glide atop minimal bass riffs and head-rocking percussion.
Connor Hanwick's stripped down drum beat and subtle use of synths on 'Me & The Moon' sums up the sheer infectiousness of The Drums, fans of the seminal Scottish Postcard record label will hear influences from such luminaries as Orange Juice and Motorcycle Boy.
'Let's Go Surfing' was the first single to be plucked from the album and what a fine choice of song to hook the listener with.
A simple Link Wray style surfer punk riff doused with Beach Boys harmonies and an excellent patter-cake hand clapping sequence in the middle.
'Book Of Stories' has one of the catchiest choruses you'll hear this year, a bittersweet ode to coming of age and romance that would make Weezer's Rivers Cuomo proud.
Jacob Graham and Adam Kessler's grasp of the functional no-thrills 80's new wave guitar sound is on a par with the great guitar pop minimalist Will Sergeant from Echo And The Bunnymen.
There's further evidence of The Beach Boys' influence on 'Skippin' Town' with Jonathan Pierce's voice sounding more like Brian Wilson by the note and boasting a fantastic string section at the track's finalé.
'Down By The Water' offers the listener some rest bite in the form of an plodding heartfelt ballad that acts as an ideal stage for Pierce to show off his full range of vocals.
'It Will All End In Tears' has an early Pavement vibe to it, a slow building indie goth head swiveller and possibly one of the most addictive songs I've heard for a while.
The catchy songs keep on coming thick and fast from start to finish on an album that is full to the point of bursting with guitar pop gold.
The Drums eponymous debut is THE must-own album this summer, and could possibly be one the best debut albums by any band I've heard in a long time.
10/10 - carlo!

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