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TyronneTed Leo and the Doctors - wait, Pharmacists
May 19th 2006 03:19
Artist Review
That's actually pretty scary
Normally, I'm very cautious about bands that look like they consist of a 20 year-old college dropout, a balding mid-30s guy, and a bearded 40-year-old virgin. Ted Leo and Pharmacists has proved me wrong. I don't know their actual ages, but looks can definitely be deceiving - the band's sound is definitely not something that would come from a old band. On the contrary, Ted Leo's voice sounds only slightly more mature the hundreds of teenage singers just out of high school. This is complemented with their sound, a bold mix of 80s pop ala Wham, 90s punk, and good ol noughties indie subtle political attitude.
The first track, Me and Mia is a straight pop-punk song in the clearest sense - pop melodies across a heavy instrumentation with a fast tempo and high-pitched vocals that simply fit. The second, The Angels' Share achieves a similar feat but includes an offbeat guitar/bass riff that could fit into Wham's portfolio instantly. While having a punk sensibility about them, there is a just a feel-good aspect to the band that I can't avoid, even with problematic melodies such as that in Counting Down the Hours which sounds more like the Chicken Dance than a proper song.
Nevertheless, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are letting the world know that 90s punk still exists, and through combining it with certain indie techniques, doing a good job of it too. Tracks like The One who Got Us Out and Little Dawn begin with those simple guitar riffs characteristic
Ted Leo
Links
Official Site
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists' Myspace
Last.Fm
Chisel Myspace - Thought I'd throw this in there.
Official Site
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists' Myspace
Last.Fm
Chisel Myspace - Thought I'd throw this in there.
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Comment by amy
Hard to read/write about music hey... I find it oddly difficult to make my head read about bands etc, whereas I'm happy to listen to Triple J's music news - ie. band gossip/trivia audially.
On the other hand, I read a lot of other stuff. So it's not because I'm illiterate =P
At any rate, it's my problem not yours, so please don't be offended I haven't been by in a while!
Comment by Jimbo
Sorry, had to vent my feelings there. Hope you come back again!
Comment by amy
Now stop trying to out-comment me. Cibby will tell you I always win in the end.
Although I'm seriously thinking about going to bed....