Despite its consistent reliance on unflinching honesty, punk is typically narrow within its scope of ambition. Titus Andronicus are an exception. The band’s most notorious albums are concept records about the American Civil War and a 90-minute Joycean take on Patrick Stickles’ manic depression[i]. Concept albums, especially those that conquer mental health, aren’t anything new, but the size is completely unheard of[ii] for a band that would happily play a VFW hall over a moderately–sized venue. The New Jersey punks have opted to stray away from the raucous bangers that helped cultivate a fanbase on their upcoming A Productive Cough, but the first single and opening song “Number One (In New York)” shows Stickles and company are more ambitious but just as dissatisfied and self-reflective as ever.
Where blurring genre lines is nothing new for Titus, it’s incredibly obvious from the moment that “Number One” starts that A Productive Cough is the most expansive Titus album yet. This is barely even a rock song, nor is it the folk that Titus have embellished on. Without Patrick Stickles’ voice, this could’ve been a Billy Joel song, or a climactic moment in a Broadway musical[iii]. Unlike most of Titus’ past work, there’s a focus on creating a soundscape; it’s a piano driven track with texture from woodwinds and guitar[iv]. It’s a shame that the upcoming tour is only going to be Patrick Stickles and a pianist, where the band could take an orchestra on tour with them.
Despite the obvious surface changes, Stickles’ lyrics and delivery are in true Titus Andronicus fashion. He sings this like a barroom folk song while slowly building into screams. Titus are the sort of band that wants to occupy both punk circles and the great American songbook, and “Number One” is the first time that both of those worlds merge smoothly. Stickles’ tone transitions from attempted sweetness to trying to contain emotion to full on confessional outbursts.
Throughout the song, Stickles seems to question the point in even trying to find satisfaction: “Spent my whole pension improving my penmanship.” He sounds like he’s on the verge of a breakdown until he finally starts screaming. Even though it’s lyrically specific, the addition of the choir seems to show the shared catharsis via exhaustion.
Like any performer, Stickles is most at home on stage or in the studio. Even though the massive ballads of A Productive Cough may not occupy the same space as The Monitor or Local Business, “Number One (In New York)” shows that Titus Andronicus and Patrick Stickles are just as at home as ever.
[i] 2010’s The Monitor and 2015’s The Most Lamentable Tragedy, respectively.
[ii] The fact that one album is about the Civil War, and it’s not even a metaphor for a modern war is the perfect showing of how ambitious these guys are! There are quotes by Jefferson Davis, Walt Whitman, and Abraham Lincoln scattered on this thing! Need I say more?
[iii] When the song reaches its climax though, Stickles performs with the passion of a leading man about to rise from his lowest moment.
[iv] Also, the backup vocals are much more of a choral arrangement rather than the sort of gang vocals you could expect from Titus.