Jonny (The Drums album)

Ahead of its announcement, the band's current sole member Jonathan Pierce released four singles off the album: "I Want It All" on April 3, "Plastic Envelope" and "Protect Him Always" on May 11, and "Obvious" on June 8, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2229807/the-drums-better/music/|title=The Drums – "Better"|last=Breihan|first=Tom|website=Stereogum|date=July 12, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}} On July 12, Pierce announced the album and shared the fifth single "Better".{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2023/07/the-drums-jonny-better-stream/#lnn6ffb176exibyhtu|title=The Drums Announce New Album Jonny, Share "Better": Stream|last=Jones|first=Abby|website=Consequence|date=July 12, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}} A tour through North America spanning six weeks also started that day.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-drums-drop-i-want-it-all-announce-summer-tour-1234707689/|title=The Drums Reflect on 'Loveless Childhood' for Single 'I Want It All'|last=Mier|first=Tomás|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}} The album cover was widely noted for displaying a black-and-white photo of Pierce kneeling naked over a chair, seemingly praying.{{cite web|url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/culture/pop-music/the-drums-jonny-pierce-mine-troubled-past-for-inspiration/article_2a252952-3b96-11ee-97a6-3f4687f9dd23.html|title=The Drums' Jonny Pierce defiantly mines his troubled past for inspiration|last=Reisman|first=Will|website=San Francisco Examiner|date=August 15, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}}

On Jonny, Pierce mainly processes his "cult-like" upbringing and its impacts on his present self. In preparation for the record, the musician returned to his childhood home while his parents were away and took pictures of himself in rooms that held strong memories.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/indie/the-drums-jonny-interview-indie-mixtape-20/|title=Indie Mixtape 20: The Drums Find Forgiveness And Peace With 'Jonny'|last=Droke|first=Carolyn|website=Uproxx|date=October 11, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}} Looking back at it, he clarified that it helped him make peace with the past, thus making it a "sacred place" for him to worship. He recalled that his first listen to the record had reflected his soul back at him.{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-drums-announce-the-release-of-new-album-jonny/|title=The Drums announce the release of new album 'Jonny'|last=Coffman|first=Tim|website=Far Out|date=July 12, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}} According to Pierce, the intention of the album is "to honor each and every part of you" with each song being a "hymn to the human heart".{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/news/the-drums-album-jonny/|title=The Drums have announced a new album 'Jonny'|last=Taylor|first=Sam|website=Dork|date=July 12, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}}

On March 18, 2024, a deluxe edition of the album was announced,{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/thedrumsofficial/p/C4qZtJ8O4Al/?img_index=1 |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=www.instagram.com}} which would include five new tracks exclusively recorded for said edition. It was released on April 5, after preceding single "The Impossible" which had been released on April 1.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=The Drums Release 'Jonny (Deluxe)' Out This Friday |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/The-DrumsRelease-Jonny-Deluxe-Out-This-Friday-20240401 |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.2/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13795/The-Drums-Jonny.aspx|title=AnyDecentMusic? Review|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

| MC = 75/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/jonny/the-drums|title=Metacritic Review|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/jonny-mw0004043496|title=AllMusic Review|publisher=AllMusic|last=Phares|first=Heather|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

| rev2 = Exclaim!

| rev2score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/the_drums_jonny_album_review|title=The Drums' Jonny is Haunting and Hopeful|work=Exclaim!|last=Sylvester|first=Daniel|date=October 13, 2023|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

| rev3 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev3score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/the-drums-jonny-cathartic-sonic-biography|title=Jonny is The Drums' cathartic sonic biography|work=The Line of Best Fit|last=Williams|first=Lana|date=October 10, 2023|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

| rev4 = The Skinny

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/the-drums-jonny|title=The Skinny Review|magazine=The Skinny|last=Barker|first=Noah|date=October 10, 2023|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

| rev5 = Under the Radar

| rev5score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/jonny_the_drums|title=Under the Radar Review|magazine=Under the Radar|last=Steiner|first=Andy|date=October 16, 2023|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

}}

Jonny was met with "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 75, based on 8 reviews.

At Under the Radar, writer Andy Steiner gave the release an eight out of ten, calling it "the best album The Drums have made." Daniel Sylvester of Exclaim wrote: "Pierce's sixth album as the Drums is absolutely haunted by sorrow and reclamation. Whether the listener is familiar with the record's back story or not, Jonny nonetheless leaves a lasting impact."

{{Track listing

| headline = Jonny {{No bold| - standard edition}}

| all_writing = Jonathan Pierce, except where noted

| title1 = I Want It All

| length1 = 4:55

| title2 = Isolette

| length2 = 2:34

| title3 = I'm Still Scared

| length3 = 2:13

| title4 = Better

| length4 = 3:48

| title5 = Harms

| length5 = 1:47

| title6 = Little Jonny

| length6 = 1:24

| title7 = Plastic Envelope

| length7 = 3:17

| title8 = Protect Him Always

| length8 = 0:54

| title9 = Be Gentle

| writer9 = {{hlist|Jonathan Pierce|Johnny Aries}}

| length9 = 3:55

| title10 = Dying

| note10 = featuring Rico Nasty

| writer10 = {{hlist|Pierce|Maria Kelly}}

| length10 = 3:39

| title11 = Green Grass

| writer11 = {{hlist|Pierce|Waylon Rector}}

| length11 = 3:57

| title12 = Obvious

| length12 = 3:54

| title13 = The Flowers

| length13 = 4:22

| title14 = Teach My Body

| length14 = 4:35

| title15 = Pool God

| length15 = 4:41

| title16 = I Used to Want to Die

| length16 = 1:02

| total_length = 50:57

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Jonny {{No bold|- deluxe edition bonus tracks}}

| title17 = I (Still) Don't Know How to Love

| length17 = 4:20

| title18 = The Impossible

| length18 = 4:08

| title19 = When Every Cell is Sad

| length19 = 3:37

| title20 = Noah

| length20 = 2:08

| title21 = Maybe I Was Wrong

| length21 = 5:17

| total_length = 1:10:27

}}

The Drums

• Jonathan Pierce – vocals, instrumentation, production, mixing, engineering, art direction

Additional contributors

• Joe LaPorta – mastering
• Waylon Rector – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 8, 11–14), bass guitar (4, 7, 9), acoustic guitar (7)
• Adam Markiewicz – strings (tracks 1, 2, 7, 8)
• Johnny Aries – bass guitar (tracks 4, 12–14), guitar (9, 12–14)
• Bryan DeLeon – drums (track 9)
• Maria Kelly – vocals (track 10)
• Gabe Greenland – production, engineering (track 14)
• Baltazar Jonnel Dasalla – layout, photo editing
• Abel Coss – photo editing

{{reflist}}

{{The Drums}}

Category:2023 albums

Category:Anti- (record label) albums

Category:The Drums albums