The Drums' Jonathan Pierce Says 'We Did Everything Wrong'

If there's one thing the Drums understand, it's the media machine. Since being cited as one of 2010's definitive acts, the three-piece has been a constant topic of debate amongst journalists, bloggers and self-appointed music experts, all with their own opinions (and criticisms) of the Brooklyn outfit.

"We were instantly hyped up, but, at the same time, instantly scrutinized by a lot of people -- and it was weird to feel both of those things constantly," singer Jonathan Pierce tells Spinner. "We still do, you know? It's a bizarre thing. I think specifically with our brand of music ... because it was so straightforward, it was very frustrating to the intellectual-types who are constantly looking for something that makes them feel intellectual."

Abiding by their own rules to "write the most simple style of pop there is," the band has been both acclaimed and scrutinized for what they feel is only a natural inclination: to make the type of music they want to listen to.

"I don't think we did it on purpose, but I think we technically did everything wrong in the eyes of the general public," explains guitarist Jacob Graham. "Like having haircuts and super-structured pop songs and nothing experimental -- all of those things in [today's] musical climate are the exact wrong things to do. And people get really upset about it, it's like a sin almost."

"But I don't think it has anything to do with us," adds drummer Connor Hanwick. "The cynicism... really has nothing to do with us because that's not what we do. I think that if it exists -- and I know that it does -- from fans and music lovers, I blame the media themselves; it's because people have had to develop this unnecessary defense mechanism against poor journalism and lazy journalism."

Pierce continues: "There's a lot of poor journalism just kind of running rampant these days. And there's no one to keep it in check really because artists are so concerned with staying in the magazines that they'll just let anyone say anything about them, which really just kind of snowballs."



Having already been the subject of controversy in regards to their sound and aesthetic, the Drums experienced yet another media flurry recently following the departure of guitarist Adam Kessler. Disenchanted with the level of scrutiny the group has been subject to, they've come to see the media as a societal pillar set to collapse.

"Every form of mass consumption has collapsed on itself," maintains Henwick. "Big record labels have collapsed on themselves, media, newspapers, music television -- every way, on a mass level, that people have been getting their music has collapsed on itself... And this revolution has already started with blogs and stuff."

"Everybody's just kind of fed up with the bulls--- that they've been fed for so long that they've started taking it into their own hands," Graham continues. "And luckily, for whatever reason, things are in a place where they can just do that."

"Pop culture is being reborn right now, and I think it's kind of a painful process," adds Pierce. "But I think it's been a long time coming."