By Jonathan Sackett

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:: An album review of new music release, “The Pure Joy of Jumping” by Drook

:: October 4, 2024

:: Drook released their debut album, The Pure Joy of Jumping, last Friday. The Richmond based band mashes together a unique blend of early 00s production, 90s distortion, and modern soundscapes. Often when I listen to debut albums from local artists, I find their sound to be derivative of more popular acts. I did not have that experience with this album. While certain tracks reminded me of anything from NIN to Porter Robinson, these felt more like homage than re-creation. 

The album is well mixed throughout and the production is solid. The sound feels homemade and personal, as if the entire band recorded their parts on a half-broken iPad from 2012 and produced it in GarageBand. 

This album has a strong opener with “Sprinter,” feeling like a B-side to The Downward Spiral injected with extra angst and a hint of Nurture. The rest of the album follows suit, making for an overall enjoyable listen. 

My only real issues with the album come down to the pop-ier tracks and the sound remaining relatively synonymous from song to song. While good, none of the tracks cemented themselves into my memory. I am left wanting stronger hooks, especially from a self-proclaimed pop band. The explicitly pop-ier tracks are the weakest in my opinion. I was more engaged with the stripped back or grittier sounding songs. 

The Pure Joy of Jumping is worth a listen. While not every track may be the most compelling, the multitude of influences this album drew from lend to its appeal. 

Standout Tracks: “Sprinter,” “The Pure Joy of Jumping,” “Texas / Awful Stories,” and “Holiday!”