One Track Mind

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Intensity–that’s the defining trait on “Ships with Holes Will Sink,” the first single from We Were Promised Jetpacks‘ upcoming debut full-length.

Whether it’s in reference to the lyrics (the opening lines are “I think I died this time / Suffered bullet holes and stab wounds in my side”), Darren Lackie’s drumstick-shattering, hard pounding beats, or the soaring grit of Adam Thompson’s vocals, fury and ferociousness are definitely not in short supply on this track. Although the Edinburgh foursome have youth on their side–the average member being just old enough to order a pint here in the States–their sound is cohesive and polished, their “inexperience” simply translating into an abundance of well-tapped energy.

“Ships with Holes Will Sink” has a pleasantly meandering quality that pairs well with the sense of emotional energy present throughout. One can practically see the sweat dripping off Thompson during the song’s mini-crescendos; although he ends the song with a refrain beginning, “We tapered off,” you know he cannot be singing about himself or his bandmates.

While the pieces present here aren’t too startling in and of themselves, it is their configuration that makes the song so successful. WWPJ share a lot in common with the soaring passion of some of their FatCat labelmates and also borrow heavily from the contemporary sounds of British indie acts of the past few years. However, it is to their credit that it all sounds fresh coming from their instruments.