Review: Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
In listening to Titus Andronicus’s The Monitor I am reminded of another critically acclaimed album: Funeral by Arcade Fire. Both albums attempt to put the whole of the human experience, love and death, sex and war, into music. But where Arcade Fire created a melancholy tale of the loss of childhood and the journey to adulthood, The Monitor becomes the anthem for the last days of summer, creating a soundtrack for an eternal adolescence that we all wish we could have on the backdrop of a tale of the American Civil War.
The album’s title is a reference to the first ironclad warship, the USS Monitor, and the final track, “The Battle Of Hampton Roads,” refers to the battle between the Monitor and the CSS Virginia. The concept of a “war between brothers” lends well to the emotional turmoil present in lead singer Patrick Stickles’ vocals and in the lyrical content of the music. In an industry flooded with overprocessed and overproduced music it’s refreshing to hear a band that cares more about the passion in their music than how nice it sounds, which makes the music sound great anyway. It seems almost a shame to point out specific songs as stand-outs: this is not a singles album. The album only really works as a whole, cohesive, piece of work, although I would be remiss to point out the excellent one-two-three punch of “A More Perfect Union,” “Titus Andronicus Forever,” and “No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future.” But again, if you have the ability to, buy the whole damn record. It’s that good.
In a previous review I called She & Him’s Volume Two the most anticipated sophmore release of the year. Do not misconstrue this as me saying it is it the best. I wholeheartedly believe the Titus Andronicus’ The Monitor wins that award, and is already a contender for best record of the year. Buy This Damn Record Now.
Titus Andronicus:
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Daniel Pittman lives in Florida and has lots of ideas about the Batman franchise. Follow him on Twitter!Email this Author | All posts by Daniel Pittman
