First for music news

Album Review: Titus Andronicus - 'The Monitor' (Merok/XL)

Breaking all the rules has mixed results

Album Review: Titus Andronicus - 'The Monitor' (Merok/XL)

7 / 10 Titus, gloriously, adhere to no plan. Step one: release a staggering debut about being young and lost. Step two: release a concept-driven follow-up about the American Civil War…ish. See? And while their bravado is to be applauded – few are the bands who can make “You will always be a loser” sound joyous, as on ‘No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future’ – there’s a bloodymindedness on ‘The Monitor’ that is equally infuriating and invigorating. The former because it ambles where it should race, as in ‘A Pot In Which To Piss’, and the latter because the majority of the album, especially ‘A More Perfect Union’, tells a macro tale writ small where massive disasters become personal crises. Imperfect, and attractively so.

Rob Parker

Click here to get your copy of Titus Andronicus' 'The Monitor' from the Rough Trade shop


Rate this album

Average rating

8.2

NEW! For the latest music videos and backstage interviews, check out our brand new sister site, NME Video.

More Titus Andronicus
External Reviews of Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
BBC Latest Rock & Indie Reviews

BBC Latest Rock & Indie Reviews: Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

"Lives up both to its rebellious, riotous ambition and its rich musical heritage."

Comments

Comments do not always reflect the views of NME, or IPC Media, for guidelines visit our Ts & Cs page

Featured Videos
Latest Tickets
NME Store & Framed Prints
Most Read Reviews
Popular This Week
Twitter
New Issue Out Now
Inside NME.COM
 
Newsletter

Free weekly music news, videos and MP3s in your inbox

On NME.COM Today