By Gabriel
iving in the metro D.C. area and discovering Ted Leo must have been coincidence, right? Probably. Leo was played frequently at the aforementioned DCCD (R.I.P.), which was also chosen by the aforementioned cute indie girl behind the counter. Leo has roots in both New York and D.C. but I associate him more so with D.C. because of his voice on U.S. politics and international affairs. Sounds like a guy that needs to lighten up but you'll see the variety if you listen to his work and read his blog.
I categorize him and his backing band with other acts that I've mentioned. He works just as hard as Hot Water Music and writes about the ways that life kicks and drags us around. I also associate his punk and pop sound with acts like Hot Snakes and Spoon. This is a sound and approach that I see as being simple, stripped down, and minimized compositions based on the essential instruments. If you look past the lyrics, it's all based on driving riffs and hooks. Like the Snakes and Spoon, this is how I think rock should sound.
The simplicity and accessibility of the emotion behind his music is more impressive than the most technically crafted and layered tracks. Ted Leo can certainly sing, but I'm more attracted to the way that I can tell what he's saying even when he's exaggerating the syllables of each word as they weave through the song. There's also something about those giant, classic looking guitars that he and Britt Daniel from Spoon use. For some reason, I trust him more for his choice of instruments, even if it's based on looks.
Ultimately, I feel a sense of authority in Ted Leo's music. He leads humbly, inspires his listeners to find their own answers (even if they're wrong), and ignites action even when it's imperfect. Leo and his Pharmacists are a reliable act that offer consistency in sound and message.
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