Hearts of Oak, released in 2003, is Ted Leo and the Pharmacists' third full-length album, following 2001's The Tyranny of Distance. From the AMG Review: "Hearts of Oak is just as exciting and powerful as The Tyranny of Distance. Lyrically dense and literate, Leo tells a story like no one since Phil Lynott in the glory days of Thin Lizzy or maybe Kevin Rowland at the height of Dexy's peak. The Pharmacists' sound has elements of punk, mod, Irish folk, agit-funk, dub, and power pop played with controlled fury and topped by Leo's amazingly elastic vocals."
Tracks
"Building Skyscrapers in the Basement" – 1:38
"Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?" – 5:02 (Video)
"I'm a Ghost" – 4:27
"The High Party" – 4:53
"Hearts of Oak" – 5:38
"The Ballad of the Sin Eater" – 5:20
"Dead Voices" – 3:43
"The Anointed One" – 4:10
"Bridges, Squares" – 4:47
"Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead" – 4:09
"2nd Ave, 11AM" – 3:32
"First to Finish, Last to Start" – 1:54
"The Crane Takes Flight" – 5:28
Every single track on Hearts of Oak is strong, to be sure. However, a few are more oustanding than others. An obviously oustanding track is "Where Have All the Rudeboys Gone?," which is the song most first-time listeners are likely to notice first. However, after more extensive listening, other songs stand out.
"The High Party" is one such track. The song opens with a catchy, fast-paced guitar riff, which continues for about fifteen seconds, at which point the other instruments enter. The song continues on to blend still-interesting guitar work with formidable drumming and a not-so-obvious keyboard. At the song's midpoint, the guitar enters into a short riff/semi-solo, which then cues the keyboard coming in with the same, all with a very likeable effect. The lyrics are equally well-written and well-sung.
"The Ballad of the Sin Eater" is certainly one of the album's best songs. The song is driven by its rhythm; there is seemingly no real lead guitar work in this one, yet the instrumental parts - particularly the drums - prove interesting and far from boring. The vocals resonating over the instrumental background ultimately don't sound very melodic, but still maintain a high level of catchiness. The lyrics, unsurprisingly to one familiar with Ted Leo, are clever and interesting.
Overall, the album is a very entertaining listen and a rather unique bit of music amongst much that isn't so. Rating: 10/10
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[Music] Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Hearts of Oak
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