Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Hearts Of Oak (2003)

Review by: Dustin Pangonis
Date: 2/1/04

When I was writing reviews for my favorite albums of the year, I put Ted Leo off until the end, even though the album was one of the first that came to mind. I found it difficult to write about. The problem? While the other groups have great reputations, or unique sounds, Hearts of Oak is simply an awesome rock album.

Of course, the band is original, but it's hard to detail their sound. In the end, it's just the old line-up of guitars and drums, backed up by tremendous songwriting that makes it all seem new again. Ted Leo reminds me of older classic rock groups in that there's nothing mind-blowing about his sound, aside from HOW DAMN GOOD it is. Complex, smart lyrics, killer melodies, raucous guitar squalor – the biggest compliment I can give Hearts of Oak is that, in a year when I was listening to barbershop techno, historical indie rock, electronic emo, and sprawling hip hop, it was a rock album that reminded me how powerful great songwriting can be.

I knew I was going to be listening to "I'm A Ghost" a lot as early as the first line of the first verse on the first listen. Even though it's guitar, bass, and drums, there are more than a couple of songs on this album that I'll be singing along to until my memory fails.