Abysmal Thoughts
The Drums · 2017
49 min · 12 tracks · indie rock
Melancholic melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a soundscape that is both haunting and deeply personal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Blood Under My Belt — This track exemplifies the album’s exploration of vulnerability, combining upbeat instrumentation with raw lyrics about emotional turmoil.
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I'll Fight for Your Life — With its urgent rhythm and passionate delivery, this song captures the essence of yearning and devotion, resonating strongly within the album's context.
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Abysmal Thoughts — The title track encapsulates the album’s central themes of despair and self-reflection, featuring poignant lyrics that reflect intense personal struggles.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's introspective lyrics and varied pacing contribute to its emotional depth and cohesive flow.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied rhythms and dynamics.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that create a haunting atmosphere, particularly in 'Under the Ice' and 'Are U Fucked'.
- The lyrics across the album frequently address themes of mental health and introspection, with a notable focus on personal struggle.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- melancholic reflections on personal struggles
- introspective moments of quiet contemplation
- subtle emotional depth and nuance
- thoughtful lyrics for deep listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat, energetic tracks
- seek immediate, catchy hooks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2017, Abysmal Thoughts marked The Drums' fourth studio album and their first since the departure of founding member Jacob Graham. This shift in lineup brought a more introspective and solitary tone to the band's indie rock sound, as frontman Jonny Pierce navigated personal struggles and themes of loneliness throughout the record.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Beach Fossils· Real Estate· Vampire Weekend
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Your Tenderness
The bridge shifts from past regret to present longing, emphasizing a deep desire for connection amidst isolation.
This transition mirrors the album's overarching theme of navigating emotional landscapes, showcasing a moment where vulnerability surfaces through lyrical contrast.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Mirror 4:04
- 2 I’ll Fight for Your Life 3:50
- 3 Blood Under My Belt 3:48
- 4 Heart Basel 4:42
- 5 Shoot the Sun Down 3:36
- 6 Head of the Horse 4:38
- 7 Under the Ice 3:41
- 8 Are U Fucked 3:59
- 9 Your Tenderness 4:57
- 10 Rich Kids 3:07
- 11 If All We Share (Means Nothing) 3:49
- 12 Abysmal Thoughts 4:50
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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