The USS Monitor was the first ever ironclad warship for the U.S. Navy back in 1862 and was involved in the the first ever naval battle between two ironclad ships, The Battle of Hampton Roads. The Union's USS Monitor battled the Confederate's USS Virginia in the Civil War. Now The Monitor is the sophomore LP by the indie punk band which is a concept album based off of the Civil War and pays homage to The Battle of Hampton Roads with a 14 minute epic called "The Battle of Hampton Roads". Indeed the band uses speeches from Abraham Lincoln and other iconic Civil War figures at the beginning ends of some of the songs. A strange concept right? Well, Titus Andronicus nails it.
The opening song "A More Perfect Union" starts off with a recital of a Lincoln speech and after that speech the songs burst into a blast of noise and epic guitar distortions. Every single songs string together through heavy distortions and screaming vocals that can just get anybody pumped. All the songs are long epic distorted messes that just reek lo-fi brilliance. It's a bit hard to get used to, but I've listened to it about 15 times and it has yet to get old.
Besides just the hard core punk lo-fi sound that just breaks your ears with the first listen, there are calming breaks ("A Pot In Which To Piss") where the band shows some really impressive shoegazy influences. Also featuring a very bluesy piano part that just has you smiling. "Four Score and Seven" has very experimental horn parts that mix in well with the layers of the themes of the album and create a very good part. "Theme From 'Cheers'"
One distinct instrumentation that lays it down is the drumming. Fast drums rolls that remind one of the very elaborate drumming of the Civil War battle drummers. Every song feature some form of the very exciting snare rolls. The pounding drum beats along with the heavy distorted rhythmic guitar parts create a great hardcore-like shoegaze feel. A very unique style indeed. It's like Neutral Milk Hotel and Pulp combined.
One track that really features all the distinct parts and really is just a fun listen, is "To Old Friends and New" feature a stellar piano part, crazy horns and very epic vocals. It's all a treat. It's hard music to get into, but it is very rewarding. So far my favorite albums of 2010 have all been very hard to listen to at first, but if I wouldn't have given it a chance I wouldn't have fully immersed myself in it. The Monitor is such a drop-kick feel of an album with lots of comedic references hidden within the very articulate lyrics.
Overall: 8.6/10
Track Listing:
1. A More Perfect Union - 9.5 *
2. Titus Andronicus Forever - 7.5
3. No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future - 8.5
4. Richard II - 9.0 *
5. A Pot In Which To Piss - 9.0 *
6. Four Score and Seven - 8.5
7. Theme From "Cheers" - 8.0
8. To Old Friends and New - 9.5 *
9. ...And Ever - 7.5
10. The Battle of Hampton Road - 9.0
* - Notable Track
Sample:
"A More Perfect Union"
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