Year in Rock 2012 Nominee: Titus Andronicus

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TITUS ANDRONICUS
Still Life With Hot Deuce And Silver Platter
From: Local Business
Released: October 23

When you're faced with the task of following up a critically lauded concept album drawing loose parallels between the band and the Civil War (complete with a long list of guests playing historic characters), you might as well not even try to match its epic scope. Titus Andronicus were smart to scale it all back with Local Business, an album that capitalizes on the band's scrappiness and intelligence while resisting any urges to do anything bigger than they have before. Although a couple of its tracks flirt with the ten-minute mark, there's nothing on Local Business that feels overblown, forced or contrived; it's the sound of a band playing to their strengths and not relying on grandiosity to carry them. Just listen to Still Life With Hot Deuce On Silver Platter (easily this year's Best Song Title winner); like The Clash in tweed with elbow patches, the tune is vibrant, artistic and astute.

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