The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins, Modest Mouse: Just a few of the many indie bands that have achieved popular success in recent years. But while these bands receive much of the focus devoted to the indie rock scene, quite a few other gems often are overlooked. One such gem is Ted Leo and his band, the Pharmacists.
The latest release from Ted and his pharmacists is
Living with the Living, out March 20th on Touch & Go Records. Living with the Living largely continues from where Ted left off with 2004’s
Shake the Sheets; the album shows a continuing musical evolution in the writing of Ted and the musical direction of the entire band.
Tracks:
1. "Fourth World War"
2. "The Sons of Cain"
Link to Mp3
3. "Army Bound"
4. "Who Do You Love?"
5. "Colleen"
6. "A Bottle of Buckie"
7. "Bomb.Repeat.Bomb"
8. "La Costa Brava"
9. "Annunciation Day/Born on Christmas Day"
10. "The Unwanted Things"
11. "The Lost Brigade"
12. "The World Stops Turning"
13. "Some Beginner's Mind"
14. "The Toro and the Toreador"
15. "C.I.A"
While the new album is still an “indie rock” album overall, it shows the influence of many different musical genres. “The Unwanted Things” has a distinctly reggae/dub sound. “Bomb.Repeat.Bomb.” is a very unique song, with an aggressive sound almost reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine without as much rapping and with some additional melody. “The Toro and the Toreador” is another oddball, with a slow, mellow sound ultimately unlike any other song written by Ted.
Aside from the tracks that stand out for their unique sounds, there are those that stand out simply for their own musical and lyrical merit. The first song on the album, “The Sons of Cain” is one of the stronger songs on the album. It opens with a catchy riff and is strong all the way through, maintaining its initial catchiness to its end. “Annunciation Day/Born on Christmas Day,” the shortest song on the album at 1:33, is another standout. Despite its short length, it is one of the most powerful songs and moments on the album. It begins with driving guitar and speeds into a resounding climax and maintains the ubiquitous catchiness of the album in the process. The last track on the album, “C.I.A.,” is perhaps the best as well. It lasts six and a half minutes without ever losing its urgency or musical strength. “C.I.A.” is also probably the most overtly political song on
Living with the Living – with lyrics like: “And you thought you knew, like you sometimes do; but you got it wrong again / Oh, C.I.A., only you know what you’ve done,” along with Ted reciting the names of various C.I.A.-related incidents in the background as the song winds down.
Living with the Living is certainly an album any fan of indie rock, or even music in general, should not overlook. Ted Leo blends influences from many different styles of rock music, and combines them with his ever-present brilliance for writing music, to create some of the most remarkable music to be found today.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists -- Living with the Living
Originally Posted by God
I didn't know there was a video!
