Raucous Rock
New Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus seem to have mastered the chaotic and cool indie rock song with their self-titled single, which combines a frenetic tune and punk vocals that explode into a coda that features hand claps and sounds like a terrace chant. The fact that the lyrics are entirely repetitive does get a little wearing after a while and 3 minutes is pretty much as long as any sober person could take of this crazed racket, but it’s all good fun.
‘Every Time I See The Light Part One’ sounds like The Pogues through a fuzzy, electronic haze that perhaps imitates their drunken state. It’s another messy punk song with harmonica thrown in somewhere for good effect, while its sequel sounds like an early Sex Pistols recording, which could be good or bad, depending on whether studio records should sound like scrappy live recordings. Perhaps it’s a statement, or perhaps they were forced to record in a tin can, who knows, but it’s certainly interesting. If you like your bands passionate, but not necessarily meaningful or highly expressive, then Titus Andronicus might fit the bill but I wouldn’t predict much commercial success for them.