Ted Leo’s follow up to 2000s enormously well received (well, critically at least) “The Tyranny Of Distance“ is something of a revelation. Rather than wallowing in the furore of the ongoing rock revival and using the popular Ramone and Television blueprint against which to measure his awkward rebellion, Leo lifts licks and pulls punches from peculiarly English icons like Dexys Midnight Runners, Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, The Specials and Thin Lizzy – the working-class cream of the 80s rather than the tart, beery phlegm of the 70s.
Witty, outspoken, political (but never overly preachy), ‘Hearts of Oak‘ is the more literate kid brother to the likes of Rowland’s own very memorable dedicated passion review, ‘Searching For The Young Soul Rebels’. Continuing Rowland’s distinctive brand of high octane soul searching and far reaching falsettos, it’s an album that cries out to find its place in the world. Inquisitive, conversational, at points brutal as well as beautiful, nostalgic yet forward thinking, the Nicolas Vernhes and Leo produced album rattles the bars and pounds its fists against apathy and mediocrity. With punching beats and pumping grooves and no let up of jabbing guitars, the vibe is never anything short of intense.
Written at around the time of the 9/11 attacks and Leo’s time loading the boats on the Jersey City docks, it’s bare knuckle fury is a little on the testing side at times, not least because it’s so tirelessly unrelenting, but the tender melodic care with which Leo has shaped his vitriol more than excuses its excesses. Whether he’s trading thinly disguised Lizzy licks and 2 tone services on standout tracks like ‘Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?’ or providing gruelling, curled lip protests on US foreign policy (‘The Ballad of the Sin Eater’) Leo meats it all out with modesty, charm and clarity.
Like the teams that meet in the caffs and the soap-box philosophers down the local, ‘Hearts of Oak’ is something you’ll never tire of. A neat, practical and timeless fiery gem.