The Drums - Surf pop meets Factory Records w/Smiths influence

Putting aside NME's hyperbole in chasing the next big thing, they do hit on interesting bands once in a while.

Case in point: The Drums. Young band from Brooklyn that fuses 50s/60s surf pop with the Factory records sound, plus alpha. They cite The Smiths as an influence on their Myspace page. So do a thousand other bands, I'm sure, but I like what I hear. Not a bad looking bunch of lads either.

Their extensive tour even brings them to the Manchester Academy in Feb.

catchy, but i have to admit they wear thin pretty quick

(don't tell the guys in the what the H is wrong with music today thread... they'll never let me live it down)

Girls is a quite similar outfit, and like Drums, are best served in small doses

I like this so far. Much better than new Vampire Weekend.