By Jonathan Sackett
:: 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!”

Music Director
Jonathan Sackett is a sophomore pursuing a double major in journalism and anthropology. While he currently lives in Montgomery, New Jersey, he has lived all over the East Coast but considers Virginia to be home. He enjoys covering concerts and new music releases for the campus radio station. When not writing, Jonathan can be found consuming too much coffee, playing bass, skateboarding or cooking.
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