I blame Bob Mould, not society. But seriously, I think the appropriate word is "praise", because that's what the former Husker Du-legend deserves for producing the new album from Titus Andronicus. Out on Merge Records on Friday, An Obelisk is corrosive, a set of the sort of invigorating American indie-rock that's in short supply these days. I can't think of very many other bands on these shores making music this positively electrifying anymore. And believe me, An Obelisk is all power, all juice, all energy.
Opener "Just Like Ringing a Bell" roars out of the gate, all hopped-up agit-pop with guitars and drums all over the place, while "(I Blame) Society" is even peppier, lead singer Patrick Stickles like a man possessed here. The cut is a sublime mix of music that sounds like the revolution is about to kick off, and lyrics that are just the right kind of aware. On a record mixed at Steve Albini's studio, this is one of the real highlights here in terms of overall sound. Still, it's not all frenzied post-punk here on An Obelisk, as "Hey Ma" is a Slade-like Seventies stomper, and the wonderfully-titled "Troubleman Unlimited" sees the band modulate their rage a bit, enough that the mid-tempo number churns as admirably as the fast songs here. All the players here are cranking out this music at a riotous pace, but it seems appropriate to highlight drummer Chris Wilson (Acquaintances, Hammered Hulls) for pounding the kit with a nice mix of precision and fury. The drumming on An Obelisk is what gives a lot of these songs such righteous anger.
And, really, for all my talk about how much chaos seems to be spinning here in these grooves, something like "The Lion Inside" is remarkably constructed. It's loud but structured, and in that regard it recalls stuff from earlier pioneers like Husker Du, Buzzcocks, and Superchunk, bands who knew how to harness a hurricane of emotions in the service of a few tasty chords and a big hook. And, on "Tumult Around The World", one of the absolute best things they've probably ever written, and the sharp "On The Street", Titus Andronicus display a very Springsteen-like knack for addressing the state of things without using a too heavy hand. I mean, this is rock-and-roll, first, and only issues-oriented indie second. More Ted Leo and the Pharmacists than Fugazi, Titus Andronicus wanna rock out, and if they change hearts and minds while they're doing it, all the better.
An Obelisk is out on Friday via Merge Records.
More details on Titus Andronicus via the band's official Facebook page, or via the band's official website.
[Photo: Ray Concepcion]