Post by mutt on Mar 3, 2016 12:46:13 GMT -8
Titus Andronicus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy, and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries, which were extremely popular with audiences throughout the 16th century. The play is set during the belt sander days of the Roman Empire and tells the fictional story of Titus, a general in the Roman army, who is engaged in a cycle of revenge with Tamora, Queen of the Goths. It is Shakespeare's bloodiest and most violent work and traditionally was one of his least respected plays. Although it was extremely popular in its day, by the later 17th century it had fallen out of favour. In the Victorian era, it was disapproved of primarily because of what was considered to be a distasteful use of graphic violence, but from around the middle of the 20th century its reputation began to improve.
Titus Andronicus the band
Origin: Glen Rock, New Jersey, United States
2005–present
Titus Andronicus is an American punk/indie rock band from Glen Rock, New Jersey, United States, formed in 2005. The band is composed of singer/lyricist/guitarist Patrick Stickles, drummer Eric Harm, bassist Julian Veronesi, lead guitarist Adam Reich, guitarist Jonah Maurer, and keyboardist Elio DeLuca.
Titus Andronicus's first album, The Airing of Grievances, was released in April 2008 and was described as the sound of a "violent, overblown and irreverent" indie band in a positive review in Pitchfork. The band went on extensive tours of North America and Europe to promote the album through 2009 including a "Bring On The Dudes Tour" with friends The So So Glos and tours opening for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Lucero.
On March 9, 2010 the band released their sophomore album, The Monitor, through XL Recordings. A sprawling concept album loosely based on themes relating to the American Civil War. That month, Rolling Stone named the band one of the seven best new bands of 2010. The band continued their extensive touring that included a tour of record stores, tours opening for The Pogues, Bright Eyes, and Okkervil River, plus appearances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, and Roskilde Festival.
Their third album, Local Business, was released on October 23, 2012. A more stripped down record, Local Business was recorded live in the studio with almost no overdubs, creating an album that was "plug-in-and-play" ready, helping the band sound as close as possible to the album when playing live. It was listed at #38 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2012, reached #105 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and gained positive reviews as well as a 7.0 from Pitchfork. Touring for the album included an expansive headlining tour with opener Ceremony, a co-headlining trek of the United Kingdom with Fucked Up, and another tour with The So So Glos dubbed the "Bring Back The Dudes Tour."
The band released their fourth album, The Most Lamentable Tragedy, on July 28, 2015 via Merge Records. Taking the form of a 93-minute, 29-song, five-act rock opera (including covers of Daniel Johnston and The Pogues), Stickles described the record as a "complicated metaphor about manic depression, melding elements of philosophy, psychology, and science fiction through the plight of one troubled protagonist’s inner demons."
Mutt's own take - I haven't found these boys to be easy to listen to for prolonged periods, and haven't finished an album in one sitting yet. That being said, this may be one of those bands that translates better live. I will try and catch them whatever stage they take, but this is one of those Monday bands, so conflicts are probable.