Word: titus
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...Titus Andronicus named themselves after Shakespeare’s goriest play. Just as this would imply, their lo-fi punk rock sound abounds with vocal violence and instrumental incursions. The band’s 2008 debut album, “The Airing of Grievances,” was a blast of anger and furious rock infused with a surprising amount of humor. Lyrics and song titles, as well as the album’s title referencing the “Seinfeld” holiday of “Festivus,” were a foundation for the album?...
Though “The Monitor” takes up this new narrative, Titus Andronicus focus most on maintaining the anti-suburban message of their debut, describing their irreverent, sometimes self-loathing, enthusiasm for their roots. On “Theme From ‘Cheers,’” this irreverence takes the form of a drinking song dealing with youthful drowning of sorrows and building of friendships with alcohol and cigarettes. Other times, the band deals with their inability to escape personal repugnance, such as when they chant the mantra of “You will...
...More Perfect Union,” the album’s sprawling seven-minute opener, sets the tone for the narrative. Sickles sets in with loud vocals summarizing a journey out of Titus Andornicus’ native New Jersey into the American unknown. Cynically invoking Springsteen, he screams, “I’m looking for a new New Jersey / Cause tramps like us / Baby we were born to die.” Driving guitar riffs and drum beats move the song forward, as the song builds to a climaxing chorus. Lyrics continuously question the anxiety and angst...
...Century concerns. Sickles proclaims “I’m destroying everything that would make me like Bruce Springsteen / So I’m going back to New Jersey / I do believe they’ve had enough of me.” By directly disavowing this connection, Titus Andronicus only strengthen it, making this album a statement about the New Jersey and America of our times, a more furious, sardonic Springsteen for the 2010s...
Although the overarching concept of “The Monitor” is certainly heavy, Titus Andronicus’s goal is extremely admirable, and leads to some grand compositions. Building on their past sound and working to solidify it, “The Monitor” showcases the band’s thoroughly entertaining vision. Though their talent may still be a little rough, and hasn’t yet fully come to fruition, the fury and power of Titus Andronicus is undeniable...