Ted Leo

Upon first listen, this is Ted Leo in his most basic, punk-driven form. Keep listening and you'll hear that hybrid of great lyricism, early punk, soul, pub-rock and politically-tinged soccer hooligan anthems that Leo is so capable of creating. "Counting Down the Hours" is a perfect mixture of the Jam and Thin Lizzy.

Ted Leo writes punk love songs: not about women but about civic-minded engagement.
Sheets is far crisper and way less jagged than his last two albums with the Pharmacists,
which were barely controlled bursts of high-minded dissatisfaction. His messages telegraph
more clearly here, as on the cynical "Criminal Piece" and the fierce diatribe "Me and Mia" --
but some of the urgency and the political immediacy have dissipated. As always,... More >