Tonic Mixtape: The Drums

NME called these guys "New York's official coolest new band," and I personally learned about them from a London DJ who had just seen them in Iceland. That's how fast the buzz is building for this Brooklyn band that formed just a year ago. But that's not to say that the Drums didn't already have some history behind them when they formed.

Drums founders Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham are childhood friends who played together in Goat Explosion before embarking on different musical paths. Pierce, in particular, started the band Elkland and signed with Columbia Records, but with that band in his rearview window, he contacted his old friend about working on some new music. The duo quickly self-produced about 15 tracks down in Florida and then moved to the Big Apple in early 2009 to unleash them on the jaded NYC masses. The Drums — rounded out by former Elkland six-stringer Adam Kessler and local stickman Connor Hanwick (Cape of No Hope) — officially ignited a hype after a residency at a Lower East Side club.

So what makes this Brooklyn-based band special? Simply put, they're doing something different and interesting with electronic-based pop. For example, their lead single "Let's Go Surfing" (check out the video below) sounds like a dance remake of the Beach Boys with the best whistle since Peter, Bjorn and John. The single came out on Moshi Moshi, the label that previously released early singles by Hot Chip, Kate Nash and former Tonic Mixtape fave Florence and the Machine. That's not a bad list to join.

The Drums might still be a new band, but they're experienced songwriters and musicians who have clearly found a groove. Expect big things to come, but for now, jam to other classic Drums tracks like "Down By the Water," "I Felt Stupid" and "Submarine."