Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

An above-average Titus record is worth a dozen imitators...

Rating: 7Titus’ debut ‘The Airing Of Grievances’ passed many by – a crime, because it was a masterpiece of tender fury. ‘The Monitor’, inspired by the American Civil War won’t be so ignored, filled as it is with charming bluster and what seems like a million instruments being thumped ragged at once to create a riot of Arcade Fire-meets-Bright Eyes melody. It lasts about two days, though, and even though the likes of ‘Four Score And Seven’ and ‘To Old Friends And New’ hum with energy and shoutalong choruses a little restraint would’ve worked wonders. An above-average Titus record is worth a dozen imitators, though.

For fans of: Conor Oberst’s howl, noise, shouting, war.


Ben Patashnik