New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus have released one of the old stand-bys in music: the concept album. On their follow-up to 2008’s The Airing of Grievances, the punk rock band writes an album loosely based on the American Civil War. Throughout the album, the band has guests (including the Hold Steady’s Craig Finn and the Vivian Girls’ Cassie Ramone) reading excerpts from speeches and poetry from the time period. But the album has a lot more depth beneath the surface. It uses the civil as a metaphor for modern American political discord. It is an ambitious album, and one that works most of the time. While listening to the album, one can see the multitude of influences, such as the Pogues, the Hold Steady, and the Replacements throughout the album. Production wise, the album is an improvement over its predecessor. It is less lo-fi than Grievances, but is not over-produced either. It still has the raw, in-your-face fury the band is known for. This is not an album of singles. The songs are meant to be listened to in the context of the album. There are only two songs on the album that are shorter than five minutes. The longest song, “The Battle of Hampton Roads,” clocks in at 14 minutes long. It is also the highlight of the album, building from a simple punk rock beat, to a middle section that would not feel out of place in an arena setting, and finally throws a bagpipe solo near the end. Epic is the only word I can use to describe it. Go out and get this album now. It is my favorite album so far this year. Highest possible recommendation. (XL Recordings, www.xlrecordings.com) Charles Lefebvre
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989