Review: Drowners - Drowners

image: drownersband.com

New York newcomers, Drowners, have had me on the edge of my seat ever since the release of their breakthrough EP, Between Us Girls, back in February of last year. Since then, they have enticed us with tracks such as Unzip Your Harrington and Luv, Hold Me Down, both of which make a punchy return on the eponymous post-punk debut we've all been anticipating.

The album's opener, a short but sweet interlude, Ways to Phrase a Rejection, immediately affirms that romanticised scuzzy guitar sound that dominates the entire album. With strong influences from The Strokes apparent, combined with a kind of lovey-dovey charm, resonant of that of The Cure.

Long Hair comes next, which will be familiar to the earlier fan of the leather jacket clad New Yorkers. Its fairly basic lyrics sounding lavishly remarkable amidst the punchy riffs with a charmingly whimsical undertone. Whereas Luv, Hold Me Down focuses more so on the romantic side in an amorous blur of catchy, fluid riffs and much softer drums than its predecessors. Its infectious chorus taking you to a world of shimmering britpop psychedelia with an 80's, post-punk, rough cut edge.

The track that follows happens to be one of my favourites on the record, Watch You Change. This track oozes the angst of a Smith's classic with very Libertines-esque guitars, especially apparent in the riff that follows the chorus. Unzip Your Harrington, however, has got to be the band's most credible track to date. Despite its laid back, simple nature, it's impossible not to have a little sway to. Its almost humorous yet thoughtful lyrics seem somewhat tear jerking when paired with that angst ridden instrumental.

Pure Pleasure, another stand out track in my opinion, follows with a distinctive introductory riff that instantly confirms this track's brilliance. Embellished with amatory lyrics telling of Matt Hitt's amorous nausea when offered twos on a special someone's cigarette.

The most hard hitting track on the album, Bar Chat, follows with a much heavier, post-punk sound than the earlier tracks we become accustomed to on the album. This track does not stick out like a sore thumb though, as it purely reinforces Drowners' ability to oscillate between that 80's punk pandemonium to the more heavily apparent 90's britpop feel that dominates the band's sound.

That affectionate charm we were greeted with on Pure Pleasure soon returns on ninth track on the record, A Button on Your Blouse. Another track that encapsulates all that is great about Drowners. That dreamy, lovesick sound that fills your eardrums with sweet nothings, conflicting with punchy riffs that commune to make something very special.

The album culminates with a track that rounds off the material we have had to take in perfectly, Shell Across The Tongue. Another track telling of heartache in that recurring laid back obscurity of pungent riffs with a lovesick charm.

As you can probably tell, I am awfully impressed by Drowners' first LP and despite my undying love for their previous material, I was not expecting a record as good as this. Free of filler tracks and repetitive monotony, the album is a truly great pursuit with all twelve tracks bound together by that 80's meets 90's undertone. It is certainly a hitt with me (get it?)...

***

8/10

Drowners' self-titled debut album is released January 27th via Frenchkiss Records. Preorder it here.