Staff Reviews

Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

Review by James Skinner

It is rare that concept albums are such terrific fun as The Monitor, which squares up against colossal odds and overcomes them with ease.»

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(From Rough Trade)

merok / xl records release 'the monitor', the second album by titus andronicus. it's released on march 9th, 2010, which also happens to be the 148th anniversary of the battle of hampton roads (see track 10), wherein the u.s.s. monitor and the c.s.s. virginia entered into their epic struggle off the coast of virginia. 'the monitor' is 65 minutes long, and is comprised of 10 tracks varying in length between 1:55 and 14:02. 'the monitor' is a concept album about the civil war, 'sort of', says singer patrick stickles. he goes on to say that "it doesn't take place in olden times, nor does it necessarily feature any characters that participated in that conflict. really, it is a record about how the conflicts that led our nation into that great calamity remain unresolved, and the effect that this ongoing division has on our personal relationships and our behaviour and how they're all out to get us (or maybe not?) and yadda yadda yadda." 'the monitor' was recorded this past august by producer and engineer kevin mcmahon at his studio - marcata recording - in new paltz, ny. the usual suspects from the world of titus andronicus were all in attendance, as well as members of ponytail, wye oak, vivian girls, and the hold steady. mcmahon also mixed the album, and it was mastered by greg calbi - whom the band chose because he is the only person alive who can claim involvement in both 'the chemistry of common life' by fucked up and 'bat out of hell ii: back into hell' by meat loaf! 'the monitor' has lovely artwork too, by nolen strals, vocalist of double dagger and co-author of the recently published textbook, lettering and type.