Titus Andronicus "The Monitor"

We could not start with "A More Perfect Union," As Abraham Lincoln addresses the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois during January 1838 while Titus proclaims "No, I never wanted to change the world, but I'm looking for a new New Jersey/Because tramps like us, baby, we were born to die." Starting with old school punk ideals and attitude, as well as a passion for history they say "Titus Andronicus Forever!" which is an awesome 1:55 minute nugget. "No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future" has a lot of depressing lyrics, but seems like a song of finding who you are and being fine with it; just escape the doubt, the self-loathing and your old mistakes, and change for the better or else things would stay the same. "Richard II Or Extraordinary Popular Dimensions and Madness of Crowds (Responsible Hate Anthem)" could be an anthem for self-loathing, but one that seems worthy of self-loathing by reading the lyrics, and like a true remorseless @-hole they respond with anger because they cannot deny what is said, but "Of course, you have never been to blame/For the various horrible things that you did/You may have gotten away with them too/If not for those meddling kids/The lump in your throat, the ache in your bones/They are nobody's fault but your own." Excuse me while I look for "A Pot in Which To P***," or maybe a shoulder in which to cry on because "Nothing means anything anymore /Everything is less than zero/And I know it won't do much good/Getting drunk and sad and singing/But I'm at the end of my rope" in this poignant 8:53 punk platter. "Four Score and Seven" starts slow, with feeling, but you add the horns and the strings, and now at 4:10 we kick off th p*ssed off second half."Cause these humans treat humans like humans treat hogs/They get used up, coughed up, and fried in a pan/But I wasn't born to die like a dog,/I was born to die just like a man/I was born to die just like a man!" and then we have the instrumental passage with raining drums and determination as they proclaim "It's still us against them/And they're winning." Do any bars play "The Theme From Cheers'?" which is a song made for those who love to drink, need a drink, or need a break from their duty whether it be civil, military, or anything else. That piano towards the end as well as the song itself cannot help but have me envision a civil war soldier going to find solace in a drink as they toast "To Old Friends and New;" a quiet piano led bar singalong with guest vocals from Cassie Ramone and many of powerful passages , but "You are not the only one who thinks that life is so cruel/Me, I have got problems of my own./But if you talk and nobody's listening/Then it's almost like being alone." "...And Ever"  is a great old-school rock song driven by sax and piano, that ends the second shortest tune with a powerful lyrical passage. "The Battle of Hampton Roads"is a long and treacherous one with a beast of a teen who is filled with hate 70 inches tall, grabbing his balls, chugging a beer, and waiting for the signal, love turning to hate, and rejection of vices become acceptance of spices, asking "Is there a girl at this college who hasn't been raped?/Is there a boy in this town thats not exploding with hate?/Is there a human alive aint looked themself in the face without winking or saying what they mean without drinking without leaving something without thinking what if somebody doesn't approve?...there a song this earth that isn't too frightened to move?" Just read the lyrics if you must know. After :10 we have the horns which leads to a bagpipe solo that slowly builds into something which one couldn't think was punky to something epic. If IHadToChoose7SongsIWouldChoose: Titus Andronicus Forever, No Future part Three:Escape From No Future, Richard II or Extraodinary popular Dimensions and madness of Crowds (Responsible hate Anthem), To Old Friends and New, ...And Ever, and The Battle of Hampton Roads.