Brutalist Bricks
We’ve been massive fans of the searing political pop-punk provocateur Ted Leo and his inimitable Pharmacists since the Tyranny of Distance, and we’ve followed with fascination his meteoric indie-rock rise, blasting through all spectrums of punk from soaring post-pop anthems to gnarled, grizzled fist-pumpers. Still, we were never prepared for the treat that is The Brutalist Bricks, a stunning masterwork of punk songwriting that’s every bit as ferocious and cathartic as the most pummeling of Rollins records while still maintaining the pitch-perfect pop sensibilities that have always separated Leo from the herd. In short, Brutalist Bricks might just be the bands best record to date – it’s certainly their most thought-provoking, political and perfectly punk to date. With the Pharmacists in their finest form in years, the band truly sounds like a cohesive whole and the record is mixed in such a way to give a sense of live immediacy, that these songs are being crafted and composed of pure energy right before your eyes. Leo, always the top-notch songwriter, outdoes himself with subtle yet stark condemnations of our nation’s current state of affairs while still inviting the listener in for his sonorous guitar-rock. Ted Leo has always been a rock god, but we didn’t know he could change the world – with this record he just might. Check out some tunes below!
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – “Ativan Eyes”
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – “Woke Up Near Chelsea”