Album Reviews

Glen Rock New Jersey is a small town in Northern Bergen County.

It has ridiculously high local property tax rates. I know because I used to live there in a tiny old house built in 1929 on a tiny postage stamp of property near two sets of railroad tracks that merged at the end of the street.

I now live in another nearby town that at least as nice in a newer house three times the size of the one in Glen Rock on a much larger parcel in a much nicer area and my property taxes are actually lower! 

Glen Rock New Jersey is a small town in Northern Bergen County.

It has ridiculously high local property tax rates. I know because I used to live there in a tiny old house built in 1929 on a tiny postage stamp of property near two sets of railroad tracks that merged at the end of the street.

I now live in another nearby town that at least as nice in a newer house three times the size of the one in Glen Rock on a much larger parcel in a much nicer area and my property taxes are actually lower! 

The difference? Glen Rock has its own high school. The town I'm in now participates in a region high school that's very good and far less expensive.

So I wonder how the residents of Glen Rock feel about the investment they've made in Titus Andronicus the members of which are all or in part Glen Rock, New Jersey residents.

The album comes across as a mix of Springsteen anthemic sincerity (naturally) with Joe Strummer and The Clash anthemic edginess adding the modernity and youthful exuberance of The Arcade Fire. At least that's how I hear it.

In an era of iTunes singles Titus Andronicus hurls at you a long form concept album called The Monitor that despite its title and cover art bears only a glancing and short lived relationship with The Civil War. Never mind. The thought is woven into the punk-rock like rhythms and Joe Strummer like vocals.

The lyrics reference Springsteen and  New Jersey locales but it's really about the universal adolescent sitting in his room in anywheresville imagining his escape through a cosmic resonance with the music. 

The energy and enthusiasm levels are through the roof and contagious. Even if you're old you've got to smile and feel the energy coursing through your veins as another generation expresses the need to break free of oppressive suburban chains. Believe me, Glen Rock can be oppressive even for an adult.

This is an ambitious, well conceived album that if it doesn't blow the band's load, portends well for the future. 

As for the recording, well, it sucks, okay? The Lo-Fi movement provides only a modicum of cover. There's no bottom end, no dynamic range, a train wreck of a soundstage and a kazoo's timbral balance. Got that?

Still The Monitor by Titus Andronicus is one of the few signs of musical life out there right now so its worth investigating despite the cassette deck sound. The textured paper cover packaging and the physical presentation overall demonstrate that XL understands what must be provided to encourage people to pay money for music.

I'll put it to you this way: if the people responsible for the sound think this is good they shouldn't quit their day jobs.

I can only imagine this record produced by Guy Stevens. At least there would be bass.