Feel Good Together

iTunes Review

Drummer is a side project for the — surprise! — drummers from five Ohio-based bands: Patrick Carney of the Black Keys (bass), Greg Boyd of Ghostman and Sandman (drums), Jamie Stillman of Teeth of the Hydra (lead guitar), Jon Finley of Beaten Awake (vocals, guitar), and Steve Clements of Six Parts Seven (keyboards, vocals). For a collection of timekeepers their music is unexpectedly guitar driven. Ornate, sinuous lead lines strike a fine balance between math rock and indie noise that swirls among the crunchy keyboards on standouts like “Lottery Dust,” “Good Golly,” and the title track. Naturally, their first instruments inform the song structures, especially in the hairpin tempo changes and rhythmic shifts, and Boyd’s drumming is truly impressive throughout. Aided by Finley’s impassioned vocals, particularly on the hard-charging “Mature Fantasy” and “Buddy Scapes,” the band keeps the momentum up across these ten melodically rich and layered songs on this solid and enjoyable release — so give the Drummer some.