Before the well dressed, skinny tie-wearing mod rock and power pop revivalists of the last few years, there was Ted Leo. One of today’s indie rock elder statesmen, Leo has been getting attention since playing New York’s hardcore scene in the late ‘80s. Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead, the recent EP from Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, his current band, reflects Leo’s constantly expanding ability to write complex, catchy, affecting songs.
For over ten years Leo has been developing his unique, influential style up and down the East Coast. In 1990, he formed his seminal D.C.-based underground group Chisel, whose mod and power-pop inflected punk hearkened back to acts like the Kinks, the Jam, Thin Lizzy, and the Clash. After Chisel’s breakup in 1997, Leo bounced around several minor projects before founding the Pharmacists in 1999.
The Pharmacists have showcased Leo’s increasingly complex and skilled songwriting, and began to gain attention with their two most recent, consistently excellent albums, 2001’s The Tyranny of Distance and this January’s Hearts of Oak. Both albums have led to great expectations for Leo’s follow-up release.
Calling Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead a “Ted Leo and the Pharmacists” EP is something of a misnomer. The only song to actually feature the entire band is the title track, which is plucked straight from Hearts of Oak. The other songs all feature Leo performing solo, with only vocals and guitar. The Pharmacists’ presence is sorely missed after only a few tracks. Leo manages to hold up the majority of the songs himself, albeit without much sonic depth.
The solo version of “The High Party,” also from Hearts of Oak, still stands up as an excellent piece of songwriting, but pales in comparison to the original with the Pharmacists. Likewise, “The Sword and the Stone” and “Bleeding Powers” are still very good, but anyone who has heard the Pharmacists’ other albums can’t help but wonder how much better they would be with the band’s backing. Then, the monotonous electronic clicks on “(Decaying Artifact)” and the final, hidden track are simply pointless filler.
The standout solo tracks are, surprisingly, the three covers. Leo’s take on The Jam’s “Ghosts” channels the spirit of Paul Weller uncannily well, yet remains original. His hyperactive version of Ewan McColl’s “Dirty Old Town” is one of the best songs present. Finally, his cover of Split Enz’s “Six Months in a Leaky Boat” showcases the sometimes unexpected but always favorable influence of Irish folk on Leo’s work.
The strongest original piece is “Loyal to My Sorrowful Country,” exemplifying the intelligent, politically charged lyrics Leo has become known for.
Although limiting, the solo format of Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead ultimately allows Leo to showcase the songwriting talent that has won him comparisons to legends like Ray Davies and Elvis Costello. While it would have been nice to see the Pharmacists included to flesh out the arrangements, Leo has produced yet another winning release. He continues to build on his own legacy, keeping himself at the forefront of indie rock’s visionary songwriters.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists will be playing at 9:30 on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW).
