Our new guest blogger, Jordon Chiarelli, shares his thoughts on the album. On March 9th, Washington DC’s Ted Leo & The Pharmacists will unveil their sixth release entitled The Brutalist Bricks. The album is an interesting fusion of indie and hard rock songs that express a new sense of pop sensibility resembling that of Can-rocker Sam Roberts alongside the swagger of The Boss. The LP begins with the amped up ‘Mighty Sparrow’ which contains all the necessary hooks and is a definite stand-out track. After a few more similar songs, track five, ‘The Stick’, will hit any listener upside the head and will surely get you on your feet. The tune is a signature Leo number and reminds me of older more palatable Pharmacists selections. Other notable tracks include ‘Where Was My Brain’ – a more up-tempo song than most of the record and finally a tune with a little muscle/attitude. ‘Bartolomeo And The Buzzing Of Bees’ has an interestingly hooky bass line and the album’s best track, ‘Gimme The Wire’, owes Husker Du a big nod. The band has been successful in recent years, playing Coachella and the Pitchfork Festival in 2007, but if I had to say all the hype surrounding this release is accurate, I’d declare that the album is full of both hits and misses. TMS Rating: 7/10.
Ted Leo recently dropped by WXPN.
MP3: Ted Leo – Even Heroes Have To Die
Brace yourselves for The Brutalist Bricks.
It’ll see daylight on 3/9/2010.
In May, he chatted with Vice.
MP3: Ted Leo – Even Heroes Have To Die
Wanna sing with The Pharmacists on 12/3 @ Studio B?
If so, then e-mail us ASAP!
A winner will be randomly selected on 12/1 @ 10AM.
Purchase tix to the show here.
FYI, Ted has chosen the following tunes for collaborations:
OUTFIELD – Your Love
PRINCE – Kiss
THE WHO – My Generation
KELLY CLARKSON – Since U Been Gone
THE STOOGES – Search & Destroy
THE RAMONES – Blitzkrieg Bop
THE MISFITS – Where Eagles Dare
BILLY IDOL – Dancin’ With Myself
AC/DC – Dirty Deeds
THE CURE – Just Like Heaven
THE CLASH – Rock The Casbah
DAVID BOWIE AND QUEEN – Under Pressure
JOY DIVISION – Transmission
YEAH YEAH YEAHS – Maps
THE SAINTS – Stranded
ARETHA FRANKLIN – Respect
BLONDIE – Dreaming
THE BOSS – Dancin’ In The Dark
THE BOSS – Born In The USA
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – Suspect Device
MINOR THREAT – Minor Threat
CCR – Fortunate Son
AMERIE – One Thing
STEELY DAN – Reelin’ In The Years
SANTOGOLD – LES Artistes
THE KINGSMEN – Louie Louie
MP3: Ted Leo – Bomb Repeat Bomb
Ted Leo – Ex Factor
A fabulous take on Lauryn Hill’s 1998 mega single.
Visit Ted Leo on MySpace.
MP3: Ted Leo – Ex Factor
