Having made a big splash in the indie world with the 2010 album The Monitor, New Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus are almost ready to drop the follow-up. Entitled Local Business, it will be out on October 23 through XL Recordings.
A press release notes that the album was recorded mostly live-off-the-floor with few overdubs. It was laid down at Marcata Recording studio in upstate New York with producer Kevin McMahon (Real Estate, Swans, the Walkmen). Among the handful of guests who contributed to the sessions was Canadian violinist Owen Pallett.
While Local Business is not a traditional concept album and doesn't have a narrative, the lyrics address the idea that "the inherent meaninglessness of life in an absurd universe gives the individual power to create their own values and their own morality." Lyrical themes include "a devastating automobile wreck, a food fight (that is to say, a battle with an eating disorder), an electrocution, a descent into insanity, and ultimately, a forgiveness of the self for its many faults."
Some of these songs have been previewed live. See the tracklist below, and scroll past that to watch performance footage of the new track "Ecce Homo." Expect tour dates to be announced before long.
Local Business:
1. Ecce Homo
2. Still Life with Hot Deuce and Silver Platter
3. Upon Viewing Oregon's Landscape with the Flood of Detritus
4. Food Fight!
5. My Eating Disorder
6. Titus Andronicus VS. The Absurd Universe (3rd Round KO)
7. In a Big City
8. In a Small Body
9. (I Am the) Electric Man
10. Tried to Quit Smoking
A press release notes that the album was recorded mostly live-off-the-floor with few overdubs. It was laid down at Marcata Recording studio in upstate New York with producer Kevin McMahon (Real Estate, Swans, the Walkmen). Among the handful of guests who contributed to the sessions was Canadian violinist Owen Pallett.
While Local Business is not a traditional concept album and doesn't have a narrative, the lyrics address the idea that "the inherent meaninglessness of life in an absurd universe gives the individual power to create their own values and their own morality." Lyrical themes include "a devastating automobile wreck, a food fight (that is to say, a battle with an eating disorder), an electrocution, a descent into insanity, and ultimately, a forgiveness of the self for its many faults."
Some of these songs have been previewed live. See the tracklist below, and scroll past that to watch performance footage of the new track "Ecce Homo." Expect tour dates to be announced before long.
Local Business:
1. Ecce Homo
2. Still Life with Hot Deuce and Silver Platter
3. Upon Viewing Oregon's Landscape with the Flood of Detritus
4. Food Fight!
5. My Eating Disorder
6. Titus Andronicus VS. The Absurd Universe (3rd Round KO)
7. In a Big City
8. In a Small Body
9. (I Am the) Electric Man
10. Tried to Quit Smoking
