Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

Ah, the dreaded sophomore album for the oft blogged about indie buzz band. At least in Titus Andronicus' case, they have guest appearances from The Hold Steady, Vivian Girls, Ponytail, and Wye Oak, among others, to help guide them through The Monitor, their follow-up album to 2008's The Airing of Grievances. While the latter album title was a Seinfeld reference, Titus Andronicus have said that The Monitor is based upon the American Civil War, with its title referring to the USS Monitor, the first ship commissioned by the Navy. Considering the fact that he definitely didn't live through the Civil War, singer Patrick Stickles sounds incredibly pissed off right from the first track, "A More Perfect Union," as he spits out each lyric surrounded by a maelstrom of guitars and dense feedback. A voiceover announcing "I will be heard" seems apt as track one bursts into track two, "Titus Andronicus Forever," a rapidfire barely two-minute song that warns listeners "The enemy is everywhere." Although he sounds like Conor Oberst's younger (and more angsty) brother at times, it's hard to tire of Stickles' great delivery and sheer passion in each line he delivers. Titus Andronicus are also masters at the soft-to-loud dynamic, interrupting their own intimate moments for crashes of drums, guitars, and Stickles' bellow. The Monitor is an excellent second album and somehow avoids coming off as heavy-handed, despite its Civil War themes.

DOWNLOAD: Titus Andronicus - The Monitor [XL]
Recommended Tracks: "A More Perfect Union," "No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future," "A Pot In Which To Piss," "Theme From 'Cheers,'" "The Battle of Hampton Roads."