BBC Latest Rock & Indie Reviews: Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
"Lives up both to its rebellious, riotous ambition and its rich musical heritage."
March 5, 2010
Breaking all the rules has mixed results
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
8.2
NEW! For the latest music videos and backstage interviews, check out our brand new sister site, NME Video.
"Lives up both to its rebellious, riotous ambition and its rich musical heritage."
Comments do not always reflect the views of NME, or IPC Media, for guidelines visit our Ts & Cs page