Politics in music is a tricky issue. While we should, in theory, commend artists who ask their audience to be socially aware and as concerned with what’s going on in their world as much as whether “she will be loved,” the execution of this impulse often leaves much to be desired. Good intentioned artist can easily simplify issues into platitudes, or insult their audience by seemingly telling them what to think, as if they cannot make decisions on their own. This all makes Ted Leo’s achievements on “Shake the Sheets” that much more astounding. Leo has managed to create a relentlessly catchy and rocking album that is also intelligent and compassionate.
Leo is an outspoken liberal, but in his music, he manages to couch his criticisms and opinions within astute observations and personal narratives. The theme of the album could summarized by the line during “The One Who Got Us Out”: “I’ll put it to you plain and bluntly, I’m worried for my tired country.” On “Heart Problems,” he doesn’t spell out the little guy vs. big corporation struggle, but simply sings, “You gotta a problem with the times? Your problem sounds a lot like mine. They’ll tell you crime, it doesn’t pay, then make us pay to be victimized.” On “Bleeding Powers,” he manages to intersperse insights when you’re not expecting them. He finishes a song that has been relatively apolitical with the memorable line “And you still see people waiting for the next excuse for war.” The title track is Leo at his most overtly political. Ostensibly, a metaphorical call to arms to change the country’s leadership, he sings the passionate yet realistic question, “When will we find a chord as resonant as to shake the sheets and make us move?” These are protest songs, but ones that question rather than preach.
As far as the music, Leo has continued the excellence of his previous two albums, 2001’s “The Tyranny of Distance” and 2003’s “Hearts of Oak.” On this disc, however, the Pharmacists has shrunk to two members (in addition to Leo) and the resulting power trio does make the record more direct and more rock than his previous releases. Leo still has his roots in the songwriter tradition, but even more so than usual, he has injected the energy of punk into his songs. “Little Dawn” is perhaps the best example of the dynamics now at work within the threesome, as Leo plays a quick repeated figure on guitar and bassist David Lerner carries the lead melody while drummer Chris Wilson keeps a low rumble. There are departures, of course: “Walking to Do” has the strutting fun of Thin Lizzy and “The Angels’ Share” starts with a simple Cars-like riff before adding more muscle.
“Shake the Sheets” demonstrates Ted Leo as an ardent humanist, but one who is able to channel his frustration with the American government and the lackadaisical populace into an outstanding album. The album should be required listening to floundering Democrat politicians everywhere – this is the sound of the loyal opposition. |