Titus Andronicus & Adem - mp3 review
Alright, I’m still REALLY wasted from last night. I was suppose to go to an Adem show, but when I realized that no one was going go with me I decided to follow the heard (i.e. the insound kids) and go to my friends (creature presents) show at pianos. Titus Andronicus is 5 and/or 6 kids (all under 21) that play loud, dirty, raw, sloppy, punk. It was perfect. Exactly what you expect a punk show to be. They even told us all to fuck off and then apologized later. Awesome. My friend Billy was there and kept saying they sounded like Dead Milkmen meets Broken Social Scene but he was more wasted than me so I’m not sure that’s a credible comparison. He was also the one feeding me free tall glasses of whiskey so I’m a bit bitter as I trudge through this email still wasted 8 hours later. Anyway I’m sending a few Titus Andronicus tracks so you can tell me what you think they sound like. And because I feel bad for missing him, I’m sending some Adem as well. It should be obvious after listening to Adem that I wouldn’t still be wasted right now if I went to the Adem show.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TitusAndronicus-TitusAndronicus.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TitusAndronicus-FearandLoathinginMahwahNJ.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TitusAndronicus-ArmsAgainstAtrophy.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Adem-XisforKisses.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Adem-Spirals.mp3
Where have the reviews been lately? Dave, come on. I thought for sure you’d at least make of me for that last email.
-mark
August 29th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
IMHO, all of this, of course:
Wow… those Titus guys really, really sound like the Strokes. Melodies, vocal style, distorted vocal sound… all that’s missing is the super-tight production and arrangements. The TitusAndronicus song and Arms Against Atrophy are pretty good songs. The other one, with the breakdown claps and trumpet doesn’t really rate. The energy and rough-around-the-edges-ness is sort of endearing but this group is not one i would listen to in the car, or in the headphones late at night… I can see how live - with booze - it would be a blast, though. You probably made the good call last night, Mark.
That first Adem song is beautiful. It’s refreshing to hear strong melody, and production that isn’t self-conciously clever detracting from it (bar the little swelly bit at the end). “Spirals” reminds me of Nick Drake and David Gray and is very pleasant and nice… good soundtrack material. Or, i guess that late night headphone listen referenced earlier. Actually, on another listen, i’ve decided i dislike this song… sounds like someone trying to get laid, with a meandering melody that isn’t really there - he just sort of goes where the words take him, and it sounds a little awkward and juvenile. That other one, though is really, really good.
Sorry for any negative energy! There is much to be optimistic about…
August 29th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
First let me say, Mark I don’t know what you’re talking about…Adem Rocks, I just burned my house down…no really I did…with puppies locked inside. All because of how hard the rock cometh from Adem.
No Seriously;
::: Titus Andonicus :::
Its exactly what Mark said dirty, sloppy, garage rock, but with songs like “Arms…” its smart too, I expected vs/vs/ch/vs/vs/ch/ch/ch/ch/ch/ but there’s actually some cool changes in there that make me think that they’re not as stupid and sloppy as one would think…again, to me the songs are betrayed once again by the production. but Ive given up trying to fight all of you on this. but all in all good stuff
Asses My Mom Kicked : 2.95
::: Adem :::
X is for Kisses sounds like a cross between the shins (whom I love) and Rufus Wainwright (whom I don’t love) Spirals is okay too…I almost really like both of these songs, but then just cant bring myself to do it. If I knew that everything else doesn’t sound the same on the album, then I think I could back this band, but I’m fearing the worst, 12 songs of this.
Asses My Mom Kicked : 2.5