Titus Andronicus - "The Monitor"

I'll leave all the grand statements and rants I have about this band out for now, as I already (slightly) covered it when I previously posted them. Long story short, Titus Andronicus is the only band today that matters, and this second and most recent album of there's is no less breathtaking then the first.
This album see's the band expanding on the deeply personal lyrics of there debut and infusing it with an overall story; a rock opera, maybe, but only in the same context of Husker Du's incredible "Zen Arcade" in that, its a sloppy, hard to follow, beautiful mess. Its contradictory, bipolar, schizophrenic, freaked out and lonely music... one of the most humane albums ever written.
There's civil war themes; the album title takes its name from a battleship of the era. Sound clips of Lincoln speeches are used. "I am now the most miserable man living," easily mistaken for an over dramatic lyric, is in fact a proclamation from the president. And don't mistake this for a cliche'd politcal statement. Feelings of alienation and strife, all common throughout this period of history, serve to illustrate the lyrics and yet its not at all set during the civil war; in fact, as far as I can tell, its about an emotionally fucked up kid running away from New Jersey. Its ridiculous, a major stretch in terms of lyrical content but its all delivered with such emotional honesty and rabble rousing energy that you don't care how much sense it makes; you feel what it invokes in you and ultimately, that is the point of the album. This band is deeply thoughtful, a major rarity in punk music, and the civil war themes just further prove that.
As far as the music goes, Titus Andronicus expands on there previous work in various subtle ways. Tattered, drink-everything-but-the-carpet bar tunes that surge forward like a damn train wreck is the name of the game here. Sounding like they're just holding it together yet doing it so amazingly, Titus Andronicus plays indie music as if its an axe and punk music as if its a comforting pillow. Its flailing and jagged, buzz sawed to perfection with Springsteen inspired riffing and shoe gazing being thrown in your face. Whats interesting is the thicker sound they lay on at times, especially in the opening track; the distorted yet uplifting manner brings to mind, of all things, Dinosaur Jr... or "Pinkerton" era Weezer.
I think I've written enough. I love this band! I truly do! And I hope you do to.
Stay Free!

01 - A More Perfect Union
02 - Titus Andronicus Forever!
03 - No Future Part Three; Escape From No Future
04 - Richard II
05 - A Pot In Which To Piss
06 - Four Score And Seven
07 - Theme From Cheers
08 - To Old Friends And New
09 - ...And Ever
10 - The Battle Of Hampton Roads

DL Link here!