Titus Andronicus - Number One (In New York)

Titus Andronicus’ last album, ‘The Most Lamentable Tragedy’, was a near-exhausting 29-song rock opera. Its follow-up ‘A Productive Cough’ contains only 8 songs, but first single ‘Number One (In New York)’ doesn’t practice restraint - it clocks in at over eight minutes.

The band’s Patrick Stickles has always been a master of tearing his vocal chords against misery and depression. As he calls himself “president of the emptiness” on the new single, it’s clear little’s changed. It’s also a comeback which shows the singer’s spark to still be fully alive.

A rousing piano ballad that soars to an ending that sounds something like a drunken singalong to an anti-Christmas song, Titus Andronicus reappear as pissed off, trodden down but resilient as ever.