After finding themselves without a label last year, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists have signed with Matador Records and released their sixth studio album, The Brutalist Bricks. Active for over 10 years, singer/songwriter Ted Leo has delivered 13 of his most well crafted tunes, backed by the punk energy of a band that defies their age.
The unmistakable vocal wails of Leo, reminiscent of Elvis Costello, kick off the record on opener “The Mighty Sparrow.” This track sets the course for the rest of the record with its bright and buzzing guitars.
The quartet keeps the energy high on the dynamic “Mourning in America,” one of the record’s darker moments. The track illustrates the band’s noteworthy instrumentals, pitting Marty Key’s distorted bass against Chris Wilson’s reggae-tinged drumbeats.
The cheery up-tempo rocker, “Ativan Eyes,” packs spoonfuls of charming melody, while the guitar work steals the show. And one of the record’s catchiest tracks, “Bottled in Cork,” finds Leo confessing his love for a bartender through an irresistible refrain that you’re likely to find yourself singing along to.
Leo floors the gas pedal in “The Stick,” a two-minute showcase of pure punk rock. Another quick cut, “Where Was My Brain” oozes with the same rock and roll attitude.
While Leo gets credit for experimenting, he makes a sharp turn in the wrong direction with the acoustic track titled “Tuberculoids Arrive in Hop.” Barely audible, Leo delivers less than memorable melodies over uncharacteristically dissonant chords.
However, he quickly gets back on track with “Gimme The Wire,” which will immediately get your head bopping with grade-A hooks and grade school energy. Wilson dominates the track on the skins, creating a musical battlefield with his band mates before giving way to Leo’s always tasteful soloing.
The closing song, “Last Days,” encapsulates what makes the record great: masterful melodies, expert song structure, and wild, improv guitar work. The record ends just how it began it: full of attitude and energy.
Six albums in, Leo certainly knows his way around a catchy punk rock song. While The Brutalist Bricks has a few unmemorable tracks, the majority of the album finds the 39-year-old defying his age with a youthful, infectious songwriting style.
His band mates shine consistently throughout the record, giving the singer’s songs a dynamic and energetic backbone. Appealing to anyone who enjoys a good melody, The Brutalist Bricks is a well-crafted marriage of singer/songwriter maturity and punk band energy.
Rating: 7.5/10
Key Tracks: “Mourning in America”, “Ativan Eyes”, “Gimme The Wire"
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