The Drums - Jonny - Import CD

Credits:

The Drums

Description:

Jonny is the album the Drums Jonny Pierce has been waiting to make his entire life. By tracing the pain of growing up as the gay son of Pentecostal preacher parents -- and how the psychic aftershocks lingered into adulthood -- his music reaches new levels of maturity. Pierces fifth album culminates a journey that began on "Abysmal Thoughts" and Brutalism, both of which grounded his songs in an appealing honesty. On Jonny, he ratchets up the truth-telling by several degrees; the nude photos of Pierce that grace the album (which were taken at his childhood home while his parents were at service) cant compare to the nakedness of his memories and emotions. "When I was a young boy I dealt with pain/Wrapping myself in purple and pink and silver/They tried to take away those beautiful things/The tender side of me," he sings on "Pool Boy," one of many times he looks back on his original heartbreak and realizes just how bad it was. "Was it so hard to be a little kinder?" he asks on "I Want It All," a deft blend of past and present trauma that also makes for one of the records catchiest moments. Here and on Jonnys other standouts, Pierce drives home his heartaches and epiphanies with the hooks and melodies expected of the Drums, but the tension between the musics exuberant jangle and lyrical depth feels reinvigorated. On "Better," he pairs bittersweet guitars with mic drop-worthy declarations of independence ("my loneliness f*cks me better than you"). Jonnys ballads express his difficulties with intimacy -- physical and mental -- with remarkably nuanced self-loathing, self-awareness, self-acceptance, and bravery. Pierce asks for grace from potential lovers on the 60s soul-tinged "Be Gentle" and "Teach My Body," which layers pain, sensuality, and hope with striking frankness. In turn, he shows the tenderness he needed so desperately in his early years to someone new on "Green Grass." The risks he takes on Jonny arent just emotional, however. At times, the album evokes Encyclopedia in its conceptual ambition and uses electronics so evocatively they could be another character in the story. Nervy keyboards echo "Isolette"s tumbling admissions; frantic beats chase "Im Still Scared"s racing thoughts; "Little Jonny" sparkles with wonder at his younger selfs strength; and "Harms" creates a sacred space "for all the motherless sons" with heartbeat-like synths and choral vocals. That sacred space extends to the albums emotional climax, "Protect Him Always," where Pierce begs his inner child for forgiveness: "Im healing as fast as I can/Im so sorry." His growth is evident on every one of Jonnys touching, impressive moments and near-perfect blend of all the sides of the Drums music -- and that makes his artistic triumph all the sweeter. ~ Heather Phares

Tracklisting:

1.I Want It All
2.Isolette
3.I'm Still Scared
4.Better
5.Harms
6.Little Jonny
7.Plastic Envelope
8.Protect Him Always
9.Be Gentle
10.Dying
11.Green Grass
12.Obvious
13.The Flowers
14.Teach My Body
15.Pool God
16.I Used to Want to Die