Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus

I've just come across this band on another forum. The name may be really pretentious, but they are worth checking out if you want a to hear New Jersey band that sounds, to me at least and on their new record, like a mix of the Clash and the Pogues.

Their album 'Monitor' is only out on 9 March 2010, but you can already have a listen via the usual channels.

lead singer sounds identical to conor oberst.

Here is a review of their new album, 'The Monitor':

www.dailycardinal.com/arts/remember-the-titus-andronicus-1.1264353

The review includes the line:

But instead of using Xeroxed bravado like New Jersey cohorts the Gaslight Anthem, Titus unsubscribe from the hopeful escapism and paint the gruff portrait of a blue-collar America bound to stagnancy, not the one clawing its way out.

All said, I really like the album.

Didn't like their first album but the idea of a Civil War concept album excites me in the nerdiest way possible.

Here's another review, though brief, from one of the UK's top national papers:

www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/mar/11/titus-andronicus-cd-review

The second album by Titus Andronicus is ostensibly a concept album about the American civil war, or, according to singer Patrick Stickles, "about how the conflicts that led our nation into that great calamity remain unresolved". It's good that he told us, because like most concept albums, the linking theme remains undetectable to the listener. But it also makes sense: The Monitor – presumably named for the ironclad warship – is filled with ragged glory, punk-rock guitars bleeding into Irish reels, rock'n'roll refrains and anguished howling. Somehow, it really does sound like a rock representation of some tattered but unbowed platoon in retreat, and Titus Andronicus appear to be playing for their lives. Being from New Jersey, they make the contractually obliged reference to Springsteen in The Battle of Hampton Roads, but this passionate record sounds more true to the E Street Band's spirit than do the absurdly literal Bossisms of the Gaslight Anthem. The Monitor is maybe 20 minutes too long, and by the end you'll be as exhausted as exhilarated, but there's the promise of a rare and vivid talent here.


While I don't agree with the dig at TGA, I think it shows that their third album has to differ from T59S.

'A More Perfect Union', the official video to their first single off 'The Monitor', can now be found here:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=103846998

Nice video and nice Billy Bragg reference in that tune.

In the new NME (17 July 2010) Brian is asked "Have you heard Titus Andronicus?" - "No I haven't. Who are they?"

Aaaargh. Titus Andronicus even name check the Gaslight Anthem in their liner notes, which included a New Jersey Honor Roll. Someone give Brian the new CD please.

Titus Andronicus are so good (and TA is, easily, the best Shakespeare play. ever). I'm probably going to Fuck Yeah Fest to see them. Stoked!

The Monitor is one of the best albums of the year, for sure.

efofex wrote:

Titus Andronicus are so good (and TA is, easily, the best Shakespeare play. ever).

although, like the rest of them, TA was written by Marlowe

i started a band thats remotely punk with a viola player. needed some inspiration, and remembered they had a violin player. been checking out and digging the tunes.

steady now steady now wrote:

efofex wrote:

Titus Andronicus are so good (and TA is, easily, the best Shakespeare play. ever).

although, like the rest of them, TA was written by Marlowe

I'd actually heard that before, but is that actually true? I've never read any Marlowe, do you have any recommendations?

efofex wrote:

steady now steady now wrote:

efofex wrote:

Titus Andronicus are so good (and TA is, easily, the best Shakespeare play. ever).

although, like the rest of them, TA was written by Marlowe

I'd actually heard that before, but is that actually true? I've never read any Marlowe, do you have any recommendations?

I was, of course, alluding to the so-called 'authorship debate' on whether the man from Straford did in fact write any plays at all, rather than merely to whether 'Titus Andronicus' is a Shakespeare play. If you woudl like to explore the Marlovian approach to the authorship issue, which is in my view the only tenable alternative one, then have a look at http://www.marloweshakespeare.org

colmillionaire wrote:

lead singer sounds identical to conor oberst.

My first thought as well. Just found out about this band, but I really like their sound!

the Monitor is an epic album

Saw them open for Bright Eyes last night. Great show! The singer climbed on top of the speakers and then into a balcony, and couldn't get down. haha, they're awesome live.

stepsandnumbers wrote:

Saw them open for Bright Eyes last night. Great show! The singer climbed on top of the speakers and then into a balcony, and couldn't get down. haha, they're awesome live.

I was there as well! In my opinion, they were much more impressive than Bright Eyes was. We hung out with them at their merch table during the last few Bright Eyes songs and I am quite glad I did that. They're awesome, Patrick is an extremely strange and incredible guy, and they're just great people in general. I'm seeing them out in NJ on April 29th and after last night, I'm looking forward to it even more.

We actually had tickets to the Chicago show that Bright Eyes did a couple weeks ago, but once the openers were announced, we sold those tickets because Titus Andronicus was MUCH more desirable.

fullcollapse wrote:

stepsandnumbers wrote:

Saw them open for Bright Eyes last night. Great show! The singer climbed on top of the speakers and then into a balcony, and couldn't get down. haha, they're awesome live.

I was there as well! In my opinion, they were much more impressive than Bright Eyes was. We hung out with them at their merch table during the last few Bright Eyes songs and I am quite glad I did that. They're awesome, Patrick is an extremely strange and incredible guy, and they're just great people in general. I'm seeing them out in NJ on April 29th and after last night, I'm looking forward to it even more.

We actually had tickets to the Chicago show that Bright Eyes did a couple weeks ago, but once the openers were announced, we sold those tickets because Titus Andronicus was MUCH more desirable.

They were great, but I absolutely love Bright Eyes. They're like my favorite band ever, so I enjoyed screaming along to all of their songs more than Titus Andronicus, but it's really cool that you got to meet them! I was pretty excited about them being the opening act, too, and they did not dissapoint. Did you leave before, like, half of the crowd in the lower level jumped onstage during Bright Eyes' last song?

stepsandnumbers wrote:

They were great, but I absolutely love Bright Eyes. They're like my favorite band ever, so I enjoyed screaming along to all of their songs more than Titus Andronicus, but it's really cool that you got to meet them! I was pretty excited about them being the opening act, too, and they did not dissapoint. Did you leave before, like, half of the crowd in the lower level jumped onstage during Bright Eyes' last song?

I was out in the lobby at that point. Patrick was jamming along to Road to Joy with us and it was pretty fantastic. lmao. But I was in the back of the room, on the first floor, and I had just grown waaaay too sick of the over intoxicated bros around me who were literally howling, and the girls who were falling over. It's like people weren't even having fun anymore because they were so out of it. They were way past the point of having fun while drinking and it was ruining it for everyone else. I think we headed to the lobby after the first song of the encore.

New Music Video

love the concept of the video and how it turned out!
also, love the song.

I like the union video and track but apart from that I just dont like the band they seem like theyre trying too hard

Just announced their third LP entitled Local Business: http://titusandronicus.net/blog/431/local-business-the-new-titus-andronicus-lp

This is one of the best bands out there today IMO, and they are from Jersey to boot. If you haven't given these guys a try you owe it to yourself to check them out. The Monitor is one of my favorite albums of the last decade.

So far I haven't gotten into their band stuff but I saw the singer at the Replacements tribute at the Bowery Electric last fall and he really stood out in a good way. I was very impressed. Will definitely check out the new record.

Yesyesyesyesyes. This is gonna be awesome.