Airing of Grievances

THE AIRING OF GRIEVANCES is the loud, bitchy, smart, and messy debut from Glen Rock, New Jersey, agitators Titus Andronicus. A special mixture of punk-sloppy guitars, irritated attitudes, and high-art allusions, the album has a shut-up-and-listen immediacy rare in recent rock. Singer Patrick Stickles smears his ego all over the place, brazenly quoting from Camus's THE STRANGER, throwing around f-bombs, and making grand declarations about modern malaise. It might all be a little off-putting if the entire presentation weren't so irascibly lovable. "Titus Andronicus" and "No Future" actually do achieve a present-day importance, while "Arms Against Atrophy" and "Fear and Loathing in Mahwah NJ" showcase the precise musicianship hiding beneah the murky production.