Jul 02 2008
Ted Leo - Living With The Living
- Artist: Ted Leo/Pharmacists
- Album: Living With The Living
- Label: Touch & Go
- Release: 2007
- Links: Official Site
In 2006, I saw Ted Leo live four times. I even tolerated Death Cab For Cutie’s obnoxious fans to see Leo last fall. During Ted’s 2006 shows, he showcased a handful of new songs, several of which had me highly excited for his 5th album. 2004’s Shake The Sheets found Ted and his band of Pharmacists cutting their sound down to the essentials. The album didn’t quite soar to the heights that The Tyranny Of Distance reached, nor did it feature the varied sounds of Hearts Of Oak. However, the album was arguably Ted’s tightest to date. Living With The Living attempts to flesh things out while showcasing Leo’s full palette of influences. As Living’s bloated tracklisting proves, this probably wasn’t the best idea.
Living begins with a dreaded introduction track (”Fourth World War”) that establishes absolutely nothing. The next five songs represent the album’s strongest cycle. What bothers me about this stretch though is that, aside from “Sons Of Cain,” an essential Leo track, none of these songs leave a huge impression. “Bomb. Repeat. Bomb” represents a bizarre shift on the album. On Shake The Sheets, Leo’s political musings were insightful. On Living, and this song in particular, they sound cliche’. What bothers me even more is that the performances are plain. I’m not sure how much of the blame can be placed on producer Brendan Canty. Ted and the band don’t sound too energized and some of these songs are atrocious.
The balls-out rock of “Annunciation Day / Born On Christmas Day” finds Ted stretching himself in a good way. The solo in the middle is infectious. The memory of this song is quickly erased by the following track, “The Unwanted Things.” This is Ted stretching himself in a bad way. Ted, I don’t care if you like reggae, but I never want to hear you expressing this fetish musically ever again. “The Lost Brigade” has a fascinating intro, but there is no reason for it to go on for nearly seven and a half minutes.
“Some Beginner’s Mind” and “The Toro And The Toreador” bring me back to my comfort zone. The latter should be the album’s closer, but it isn’t. Leo proceeds to treat us with “C.I.A.” This is another song that wears out its welcome and is a weaker closer compared to “The Toro And The Toreador.” The sequencing on Living is just baffling. The “this is like a Ted Leo mix tape” excuse just doesn’t work on an album highlighted by such uneven songwriting.
It is entirely possible that my expectations for this record were too high. However, I never anticipated that Ted would throw me such a curveball with this record. In short, it lacks the charm that have made Ted’s last three records such a delight. Everything about Living seems forced and over-the-top to me. As a huge Ted Leo fan, this is all enormously disappointing.
(3/25/07)