By Alex Brenner
In a never ending discussion with a fellow A-Lister, we’ve come to realize AC/DC (and several other bands) have released the same record over and over again for the last 20 years. So the question is always :”Is this a bad thing?” My answer is absolutely not. “Who made Who” eventually becomes “Thunderstruck” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” becomes “Money Talks” and just like most light beer, it all goes down the same.
Which brings us to Ted Leo’s sixth full length. This time out he’s on Matador Records. Let’s start by saying it’s nothing new or groundbreaking. What do you get then? Well, Ted Leo has built the same brand, so to speak, as AC/DC or any other classic band. You get great songwriting and immediate hooks with punk rock revelry. Like The Clash or Fugazi, Ted Leo has always sung about political woes whilst taking time to get a love song in there as well. He is a fierce lyricist and an amazing tune smith. Given that, I see no reason for him to change.
While I thoroughly enjoyed 2007′s Living with the Living, I felt the record was a bit uneven. The Brutalist Bricks is shorter and tighter and above all packed full of great songs. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists sound totally re-energized and ready to rock as you can tell from the first song, “The Mighty Sparrow.” Ted Leo sure can write a melody and although I have no idea what he is talking about half the time I don’t care. Even when playing acoustic, Leo just sounds lively (“Even Heroes Have to Die”). There are some really great punk moments on here too like “The Stick” and “Bottled Up In Cork” – which sounds like something Elvis Costello could have bashed out in 1977. Too often records seem to start strong and drag out until the end but Bricks gets better and better as it plays through. ”Woke Up Near Chelsea” or the disco infused “One Polaroid a Day” are some of the strongest songs Leo has written to date. Sonically, I loved the harder edge of Living and this really seems to expand on that.
All in all The Brutalist Bricks is a fine new effort. As I mentioned before, it’s nothing new or experimental (thank god), it’s just straight ahead, classic Ted Leo. The production is dry and awesome. The vocals explode out of the speakers and of course new bassist Marty Key and drummer Chris Wilson pound the crap of these songs. The Brutalist Bricks is worth checking out and if you are not familiar with any of his previous efforts this is a great introduction.
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists will play the Masquerade on April 4.
