Ted Leo has been around the indie rock block a few times, plugging in with Citizens Arrest, Animal Crackers, and Chisel before shooting his debut load in 1999. Leoís Elliot Smith / Billy Bragg-esque approach to folk/pop simplicity is very soothing to the ears, and the whoís who of the indie rock community lent a helping hand to make The Tyranny Of Distance the crashing wave of brilliance it truly is. Fugazi drummer and producer of The Make Up, Brendan Canty produced the record, while his brother James Canty (The Make Up, Nation Of Ulysses), Seb Thomson of Trans Am, and an armada of other talented musicians all played on the record. Ted Leo is a rocker. This is a rock record. A classic rock ethos floats in and out of every song, making it tough for the typical Lookout! Buyer to pick this over The Donnas or Mr. T Experience. “Parallel Or Together” and “Under The Hedge” are super strong radio frontrunners, while “The Great Communicator” sounds like the score to the movie Easy Rider or something CCC listened to as they jammed in their basement. Say hello to Erin Smith at Lookout! and she will set you straight with this must have rock record.

Ted Leo
Lookout!

1. Live – Ted Leo and The Pharmacists Go All Out!
2. Middle Distance Runner @ The Annex | NYC
3. Long Distance
4. Mary Timony Finds A New Home At Lookout!
5. Middle Distance Runner – “The Unbeliever”