On 2010’s The Monitor, New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus established itself as one of the more difficult indie bands to pin down. Too ethereal and ambitious to be considered pure-blooded punks, but too raw and boisterous to subscribe to any post-punk subgenre. For all intents and purposes, Titus Andronicus blazed unexplored, genre-bending trails.
Therefore, it would be only logical that the band would charge further into uncharted territory with this third release, seeking to perfect a marriage of rousing bar rock and ghostly shoegaze.
Curiously enough, Local Business finds the band doing the opposite: stripping its music to basic elements. The result is a pure, unadulterated take on good old rock ‘n’ roll.
Recorded mostly live with minimal overdubs, Local Business sweats classic rock swagger. “Still Life With Hot Deuce On Silver Platter” flaunts a driving rhythm complemented by jangly guitar leads before slowing the pace to highlight a bluesy piano line. The interweaving guitar harmonies on the breakdown of “My Eating Disorder” play like a somber impression of a Thin Lizzy tune.
Local Business boasts a tighter, more focused band while harnessing the energy of a live performance. Front man Patrick Stickles’ lyrics are more concise and self-effacing, adding a sense of maturity to his existentialist tirades.
Despite adopting a more straightforward, no-frills approach, the band members prove they still can bare their teeth. The song “Titus Andronicus vs. The Absurd Universe (3rd Round KO)” places the band’s clamorous punk roots into this newfound context, proving that it is as ready and willing as ever to go down swinging.
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