Album Reviews

Titus Andronicus :: The Monitor

by Sara

“Is it a concept album about the Civil War? Or one of the best indie rock albums of 2010? You decide as we preview The Monitor.”
– MySpace Front Page

That’s all it took to hook me into listening to Titus Andronicus’ follow-up to their (apparently) critically acclaimed debut (I’ve never heard their debut, let alone the band itself). Well, that and the band is named after my all time favorite Shakespeare play. Remember that episode of South Park when Cartman puts Scott Tenorman’s parents in a chili and makes him eat it? Yeah, they got that from this play.

At any rate, The Monitor is a pretty interesting listen, with themes of the Civil War. It opens up with an amazing Abraham Lincoln quote:

If destruction be our lot, we ourselves must be its author and finisher.
As a nation of free men, we will live forever or die by suicide.

Tell me that doesn’t make you want to grab your rifle and bayonet and stab some confederate in the eye! “A More Perfect Union” then gives way to messy (not necessarily in a bad way) guitars and effects. As soon as this album begins, you know that the quality isn’t the greatest. I don’t know if that’s on purpose or not, but I really don’t mind. The guitars have a grungy, low tone distortion about them that makes them all come together in a mashed up punk essence. The solos add to the songs without taking too much attention away from the collective sound.

“Titus Andronicus Forever” follows and it’s probably one of the most simple track ever, but it’s also one of the most fun! With “The enemy is everywhere” repeated throughout the entire song, I picture a soldier alone in his camp surrounded by the enemy. I know that doesn’t sound fun, but the way this song is put together makes it seem like hilarity ensues. Picture a grainy black and white video of this soldier frantically turning back and forth with his weapon to this song, and for some reason it’ll make you smile.

The Monitor slows down considerably with the track, “A Pot In Which To Piss.” Here, we get to focus on the ghostly effects and lead singer Patrick Stickles’ eerie delivery. Eventually, more of the band chimes in, making way for more punk-influenced sounds. “A Pot In Which To Piss” is an epic track, spanning over 8 minutes long. So many influences can be heard here: folk, punk, ska, shoegaze, lo-fi … There’s even a little bit of saloon piano in the mix!

Titus Andronicus mash up so many influences into a single track; imagine how the album as a whole sounds! The Monitor is not over-produced and has a very raw sound to it. The musical composition is put together very well, considering the span of influences involved. Many websites that I’ve read have already begun claiming The Monitor as 2010’s greatest indie album. I think it’s a little too early to make that decision, but I will say that this is definitely an interesting album worth hearing. The Civil War concept shines through even in between songs, when we get to hear quotes from Abraham Lincoln and others.

Buy the album at our record store on Amazon

Definitely check this one out!

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