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For the 15th anniversary of the second Titus Andronicus album, The Monitor, we take a detailed look at how it was made. After Patrick Stickles founded Titus Andronicus in Glen Rock, New Jersey in 2005, he worked with a rotating group of musicians, many of whom he had known in high school. By the time they were ready to record their first album, the lineup had coalesced around Stickles, Liam Betson, Dan Tews, Ian Graetzer and Ian Dykstra. The New Jersey label, Troubleman Unlimited, agreed to put out their debut album and pay for studio time with producer Kevin McMahon, who they had worked with on their early recordings. The Airing of Grievances was released in 2008 and was an unexpected success. XL Recordings became interested in signing the band and agreed to rerelease their debut album in 2009. Around this time, Eric Harm took over on drums, while Stickles moved to Somerville, Massachusetts and began writing the songs that would make up their second album. Using their advance from XL, they booked a month in Kevin McMahon's studio and began recording the album. The Monitor was eventually released in 2010. In this episode, Patrick Stickles describes his grand vision of a concept album framed around the American Civil War. He describes his routine at the time where he would stay up late, smoke pot and watch Ken Burns's Civil War documentary. Stickles talks about how gobsmacked he was by the film and how the words of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Walt Whitman inspired him to include their words as a framing device on this record. He also describes this time in his life when he was graduating college and applying to graduate school but deciding to abandon his plans as the band started to become successful. Partially inspired by Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run, Stickles talks about how he felt like he needed to take advantage of a potentially fleeting moment, where he had a deal with a new label, the attention of the music press, and a growing audience around the world. The result was the big swing of The Monitor, where the band had no qualms about attempting to create a generational touchstone. From the indie rock boom years to casting his friends in reenactment roles to ambitious song suites to incorporating the music of the Civil War to exploring the eternal us vs. them conflict to the continuing saga of mental health to the importance of conviction and raising the stakes, we'll hear the stories around how the record came together. Intro/Outro Music: “The Anniversaries” by The Tisburys, from the album, A Still Life Revisited Episode produced, edited and mixed by Dan Nordheim Additional mixing and mastering by Jeremy Whitwam
Former roommates Stickles (Titus Andronicus) and Walker (post-wook) look back on the year. Download the Callin app for iOS and Android to listen to this podcast live, call in, and more! Also available at callin.com
After discussing Green Day's American Idiot on a previous episode (Ep. 48), Al became fixated on a couple of questions. Did Green Day send Jesus of Suburbia on a Hero's Journey? And were they telling essentially the same story that Titus Andronicus told in The Monitor (Ep. 34) and that Genesis told in The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway?Here to help Al grapple with these questions is playwright/novelist/actor/musician Nat Cassidy, who makes his return after appearing on Ep. 27. Nat breaks down the aspects of each album that fit the pattern of a Hero's Journey and those that don't, as well as discuss what he loves about each album and the many projects that he has been working on of late.You can follow Nat on Twitter at @natcassidy and on Instagram at @catnassidy. You can find out even more about Nat's work at natcassidy.com.Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.1:17 Nat joins the show2:35 Al explains why he wanted to do an episode on these three albums4:35 Nat summarizes the plots of all three albums13:04 Are these plots examples of the Hero's Journey?19:35 Nat talks about how these albums allude to other pieces of pop culture21:04 Each protagonist shares the experiences of being lost and being “punk”23:01 Al and Nat discuss their relationship with punk rock28:14 None of the protagonists want to fit in29:56 Does the Civil War theme obscure the message of The Monitor?33:49 The protagonists from American Idiot and The Monitor both revel in other people thinking they're losers35:19 Al highlights some of the similarities and differences between the protagonists39:06 Jesus imagery plays a key role in each of these stories40:48 Nat and Al ponder the role of nihilism in these stories46:28 Nat argues that Jesus of Suburbia did change by the end of American Idiot49:34 Nat thinks doing a rock opera helped take Green Day's sonic journey to a more varied, interesting place52:10 Nat sees Genesis embracing chaos throughout The Lamb54:00 Nat thinks The Monitor's protagonist may go on a Hero's Journey after all57:10 To what degree are these protagonists' journeys a reflection of their times?1:10:59 Nat wonders if The Monitor is asking whether a Hero's Journey is even possible now1:12:23 Al asserts that Patrick Stickles' New Jersey is not the stereotypical New Jersey1:16:36 Does Nat have a favorite among these three albums?1:27:04 Nat discusses his current and upcoming projects
Patrick Stickles (@TitusAndronicus) drops by Fortune House to jam a few songs and cook spaghetti bolognese with Charles, Alex, and Dan. Fortune Kit on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fortunekit
Actor (I Know This Much Is True, Red Dead Redemption II) and Infinity Podcast co-host Scott Thomas introduces me to an album that is epic in nearly every possible way. We discussed Titus Andronicus' second album, The Monitor, a Civil War-themed treatment of grappling with life as a young white man in an “uptight” North Jersey suburb. We talked about Scott's current projects, the experience he had listening to The Monitor for the first time and what (nearly) each of the album's 10 tracks means.I had a first-of-its-kind fail on this episode. I unintentionally skipped the track, Theme From “Cheers,” so my apologies to those looking forward to a discussion of that song. For those who don't know this album, it isn't actually the theme from “Cheers.”In No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future, Patrick Stickles sings a line “senior year in Mahwah,” which I had interpreted as his (or his character's) senior year at Mahwah High School. I later realized that, given that Stickles attended Ramapo College in Mahwah, he was probably referring to his senior year of college.In discussing the reference in A More Perfect Union to the Newark Bears baseball team, I had said they were or may still be an independent league team. The Bears folded in 2013.Scott had recommended the series that the Dissect podcast did earlier this year on on Kanye West's YEEZUS. You can stream those episodes here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2b025hq3gJ17tQdxS3aV43?si=uacvnmMDQqmG768nvvPKBg&nd=11:18 Scott joins the show2:19 Scott has been working on several projects, including a short film6:44 Scott cites some other albums he could have discussed on this episode10:31 Titus Andronicus did not make a great first impression on Scott12:56 Scott chose listening to The Monitor for the first time over a family dinner16:19 Al's first impression of The Monitor was nearly identical to Scott's18:04 Patrick Stickles gets his points across through a wide variety of cultural references20:20 Delineations between songs on The Monitor are almost arbitrary21:41 The Monitor requires a lot more listens than what Al gave it24:13 Is Titus Andronicus a punk band?31:23 The album touched a nerve for Al, who grew up near where Patrick grew up33:05 Scott grew up with the members of Fall Out Boy35:06 The Bergen County-specific references on The Monitor made the listening experience different for Al38:24 The themes of The Monitor touch on ideas associated with white male privilege41:41 The parallels between the inner conflict within white American men and within the larger American society begin at the very start of the albumTrack by track breakdown44:09 A More Perfect Union47:46 Titus Andronicus Forever49:55 No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future55:28 Richard II or Extraordinary Popular Dimensions and the Madness of Crowds (Responsible Hate Anthem)1:03:00 A Pot in Which to Piss1:10:57 Four Score and Seven1:16:07 To Old Friends and New1:18:32 …And Ever1:20:18 The Battle of Hampton Roads1:32:09 Scott recommends a way to listen to The Monitor that makes it easier to digest1:34:18 Will Scott see Titus Andronicus play The Monitor in its entirety on their upcoming tour?You can find Scott on Twitter and Instagram at @OGScottieTAs he mentioned on the show, you can also reach Scott by email: scottthomas101@gmail.comYou can hear Scott on The Infinity Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-infinity-podcast/id1438989347Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB. You can also find him on both Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum, where he announces upcoming guests and albums several days ahead of the release of each episode.
Patrick Stickles (@TitusAndronicus) joins Dan, Charles, and Alex to imagine a world where Titus Andronicus signed to Waffle House's record label and discuss how Donald Trump needs to start a chain of megachurches. Fortune Kit on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fortunekit
On today's episode I talk to musician Patrick Stickles of the band Titus Andronicus. Originally from Glen Rock, New Jersey, Patrick started Titus Andronicus in 2005. Since then, the band has garnered a great deal of critical praise and commercial success. Their first three albums were released on Troubleman and XL, but starting with The Most Lamentable Tragedy, they've been part of Merge Records. Their latest album, An Obelisk, was just released this past June, and it is wonderful! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow me on Twitter.
On this episode, we talk to Patrick Stickles, songwriter and frontman of the band Titus Andronicus, about his music's honest portrayal and discussion of writing records in manic states and having to tour them in the crash of depression. Dark Blue is part of the Osiris podcast network. Check out Osiris for more great music and culture podcasts.
The Goons welcome Improvisor and fellow music fanatic John Watt to the show. John talks to us about the album The Monitor by Titus Andronicus. We dive into the work of this album and what was going through the head of the main song writers Patrick Stickles life when he created this. Matt struggles with his feelings on it and Alex is very chill with it. John also talks about his history with music and how he expanded his taste and knowledge. Fun conversation! Talking Tunes With These Two Goons RSS
Our lucky eleventh episode features the wonderful Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus! Host Lior Phillips chats with Patrick about the similarities between music and politics, a life-changing Sleater-Kinney gig, rowdy crowds, and Titus Andronicus' new album, A Productive Cough. This episode was brought to you by our friends at Vivid Seats. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
Patrick Stickles shares his journey from New Jersey punk to Brooklyn-based cat owner, and everything in between. We also talk about the band Everclear, which was unexpected. Titus Andronicus will be on tour in the UK in the fall of 2018. web: http://www.noeffectsshow.com email: noeffectsshow@gmail.com
Valentine’s Day casts a slight pall on the conversation, as we sit down just ahead of Titus Andronicus’ latest record, A Productive Cough. There’s a lot of talk about art and punk and life, and how long one can sustain a rock and roll career without reaching the jet setting heights of a Led Zeppelin or U2. It’s a conversation Patrick Stickles has always been open about. The band’s driving force and sole consistent member has often openly wondered whether each album might be its last, but has continued to release new records on a regular schedule. The band’s latest is a stylistic departure from the group’s earlier work, with “no punk bangers,” as he puts it during our conversation, followed up by a stripped down, nearly acoustic tour. “Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is how you grow,” he says. But Stickles and band maintain the ethos on which the project was founded, seeking to find a personal connection with its loyal fanbase, continuing to evolve nearly a decade and a half into the group’s existence.
Friends of the Show Episode 42 with @NickNemeroff “It’s a funny thing being in a punk band, sometimes you have to turn your back on a soda you really love” – Patrick Stickles, of Titus Andronicus Nick is a comedian originally from Montreal currently based out of Toronto- and one of my favourites to follow … Continue reading "FOTS 42 @NickNemeroff and Butter the cat"
For Bruce Springsteen 1980 double-album "The River," I spoke with Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus, whose latest album, "A Productive Cough," comes out March 2. I met up with Stickles at his apartment in Brooklyn right after my plane landed, and there's a definite late-night vibe to this episode that suits the album. "The River" is a fulcrum in Springsteen's career, summing up what he had done on his other albums up to that point, and also providing some clues as to where he was headed.
Tragedies! We talk life with Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus at Primavera Sound on this episode of Made of Things. Lamentable tragedies and teenage angst and how to cope, but also smoking, Merge Records and giving away guitars. YouTube // Facebook // Download file // iTunes // Instagram // Twitter
A garage is a pretty comfortable place for Mikal Cronin. He's been making rock music with his buddies since high school, especially with his longtime friend and collaborator Ty Segall. As he tells Marc, it's always been a DIY affair. Plus, Patrick Stickles from Titus Andronicus returns to get Marc up to speed on his new rock opera. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Sign up here for WTF+ to get the full show archives and weekly bonus material! https://plus.acast.com/s/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast.
This week on Snacky Tunes, Greg and Darin welcome Amanda Freitag, one of New York’s most celebrated chefs, and the band Kal Marks, who came all the way from Boston to play some rock. Amanda is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and a well known TV personality and chef for battling Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America on the Food Network. Getting her start under the guidance of Jean-Georges Vongerichten at Vong New York, she eventually teamed up with legendary restaurateur Godfrey Polistina (Carmine’s, Ouest, Virgil’s BBQ) to start the popular upper west side restaurant Cesca Enoteca & Trattoria. Most recently, Amanda was the executive chef at Gusto in the West Village, where she received both critical and popular acclaim. Lastly, Freitag found a new opportunity at The Harrsion in Tribeca. Since Freitag’s arrival, The Harrison has received numerous accolades from local and national media, including a two-star review from The New York Times, as well as features in Time Out New York, New York Magazine and Forbes Life. Boston’s Kal Marks (originally the solo project of Carl Shane and now a trio) are set to release their first full length album as this lineup, and first recorded in a real studio, Life Is Murder, on September 17 via Exploding In Sound/Sophomore Lounge/Midnight Werewolf. They come from a scene of other young raging rock bands (like Pile and Speedy Ortiz), and like those bands, Kal Marks get loud. But they’re also part of a long lineage of indie rock bands with weird-voiced singers that spans from bands like Modest Mouse or Wolf Parade to more recent things like Alt-J. Ever wondered what Titus Andronicus might have sounded like if Patrick Stickles was more into Isaac Brock and less into Conor Oberst? Kal Marks could be your answer. “When I got to The Harrison, I got a call asking if I wanted to be on Iron Chef. I had a great experience that led to Chopped.” [24:30] — Amanda Freitag on Snacky Tunes
This week we’re sweating in the studio, so we call climate reporter Chris Mooney to discuss climate change, before welcoming Patrick Stickles to discuss Titus Andronicus.
Part 2 of my conversation with guests Ric Dube and Jay Breitling as we dissect a classic episode of the 1970s sitcom What's Happening. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Patrick Stickles and Me & Stupid. Show notes: - Recorded at More Lost Time world HQ; check out the 50th episode of MLT (with cameos from Mr. Breitling and myself) - Inspired by MST3K and Rifftrax, we're commenting while watching video - Watch the episode along with us at the CompCon YouTube channel - Breitling joins the fray - Haywood Nelson was the inspiration for indie rock band Haywood - JB: The satin jacket died with Rainbow's "All Night Long" video (featuring Graham Bonnet on vocals, not Joe Lynn Turner) - Enter Big Al Dunbar - Rerun wore his pants old-man high - The original discomfort comedy - Were the Doobies big anti-bootleg advocates? - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is a defense industry consultant now - Baxter's wearing a Warner Bros. jersey - Rocking out while seated - Flaming gongs kick ass - Dee's tripping - "Pluggin' in the USB" - Rerun drops tape recorder, feels shame - The Doobies intimidate Big Al and henchman - Bonehead of the Week Music:Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Let the Day Begin Patrick Stickles - Hey Tonight Me & Stupid - Receiver Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review! The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club song is on the EP Let the Day Begin. Download it for free (in exchange for your email address) at the band's website. The Patrick Stickles song is a cover of a Free Energy song and available for free download at Stereogum. The Me & Stupid song is on the album In a Cabin with Me & Stupid. Download the album for free at the Me & Stupid website. The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
THIS IS IT! Final Sounds Ace of 2010! As promised, it's the second part to my Best Of series in honour of the year's end and features some of my favourite songs from this past year INCLUDING: Titus Andronicus (who's fronter Patrick Stickles is pictured), Joanna Newsom (best song of 2010 for me, I think???), Japanther, Women, Woods, Zola Jesus, The National and Ariel Pink! Thank you to all my listeners, downloaders and subscribers! TOGETHER, WE SOUND ACE. See you next year! Esther