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Ted Leo and the
Pharmacists: Hearts of Oak
The third full-length release from Ted Leo and his band is a mish-mash of fuzzy guitars and witty lyrics nailed to melodies that stick in your head for days. In other words, I really like this album. There was a lot written about Hearts of Oak when it was first released back in February, and many of the reviews (at least the ones I read) billed it as a successful melding of all of sounds theyve been playing around with since their first release. Having not heard the other stuff, Ill have to fly by the seat of my pants here; I can say that this is probably one of the best releases Ive heard so far this year. My only problem with the album is that Im having trouble describing it without comparing it to someone else; Leos vocals recall both Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson (he spits words like Elvis, but sings sort of like Joe), while at the same time not aping their styles. After a noisy, distortion-heavy opening (Building Skyscrapers In The Basement, which ends up a pretty little song even though theres not much structure to it), the record kicks off in high gear with Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone? and doesnt really slow down from there. The lyrics tend to run together, as if hes saying them as hes thinking of them, and this contributes to the sometime manic feel of the album. Theres a heavy new wave feel throughout, and I have a feeling that if this record was released 20 years ago, there would be synthesizers all over it. Instead, the songs are covered with electric guitars and smushy electric pianos which goes to show that the best rock is usually pretty basic. There isnt really a standout track on the record, as it sort of flows together. Ive listened to it at least ten times so far, and I have trouble remembering which song matches which title on the back. I will say that I like Im A Ghost and The Ballad of the Sin Eater the most. This record does have that stigma of being a hype disc one thats raved about only to be forgotten about quickly but if youre a fan of simple but smart electric-guitar rock and find the Strokes and the like too swaggery, then this disc is probably for you.
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