Title Fight

Title Fight: ShedShed (2011)
Side One Dummy Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: thepopeofchili-townthepopeofchili-town
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Published on May 3rd 2011If I were in any position to hand out a "Most Improved Band of 2011", I'd give it to Title Fight. In the past, their "hardcore goes pop-punk" sound did nothing for me, but I consider myself an open-minded guy, so I decided to give their new record a shot, and I'm glad I did. For their full-length Si.

If I were in any position to hand out a "Most Improved Band of 2011", I'd give it to Title Fight. In the past, their "hardcore goes pop-punk" sound did nothing for me, but I consider myself an open-minded guy, so I decided to give their new record a shot, and I'm glad I did. For their full-length SideOneDummy debut, Shed, the group, well, sheds most of their past sound away in favor of something slower, more fully realized, and infinitely more interesting.

The minute-and-a-half "Society" shows heavy traces of Hot Water Music and Small Brown Bike, but with bigger hooks and a youthful energy, while the title track finds itself square in the middle of Polar Bear Club country. In fact, a good portion of Shed feels like it could have been the followup to Polar Bear Club's Sometimes Things Just Disappear. (Listeners disappointed with that record's actual followup take notice.) There are a few nods to their past, on tracks such as "Flood of '72", "You Can't Say Kingston Doesn't Love You" and "Coxton Yard", but for the most part, Shed is something entirely different for Title Fight.

"27" is a heart-wrenching meditation on the loss of a loved one that proves the group has matured lyrically as well as musically, however, they haven't forgotten where they came from. The group's hometown of Kingston, PA finds its way into several of the songs on Shed.

SideOneDummy have been hitting it out of the park with their young signings in the last few years-from the Gaslight Anthem and Fake Problems to Broadway Calls and now Title Fight. Kudos to them for seeing something in the band that I didn't. Shed is the biggest surprise of the year so far, and an extremely pleasant one. Fans of post-hardcore will find plenty to like here.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

CowboyKiller (January 5, 2012)

Great music. Needs more hooks though.

EchosMyron (December 13, 2011)

No good.

salzar (December 8, 2011)

I love this album.
Their sound has really grown into a new direction since their last record, and I'm tottally ok with that.

SmokeymcPot (June 21, 2011)

I fucking love this band every album every song. these guys are fucking geniuses

pavexparadise (June 13, 2011)

Perfect Album couldn't have asked for anything more from these guys

quickattack (May 26, 2011)

Love it. Top 5 material.

ballsackKY (May 25, 2011)

this album is so good I had to have it on Blue and Red vinyl.

KatherineAlberts (May 10, 2011)

Took my a few listens, now I can't turn it off. Most Improved Band, hands down.

aubin (May 5, 2011)

Really great record.

traininvain56 (May 5, 2011)

i love this album

nick_heitman (May 4, 2011)

this is exactly what i was hoping the record would sound like. my favorite record in the past few years. the vocals are perfect too. "you can't say kingston doesn't love you" is my favorite song by them now.

quickattack (May 3, 2011)

Love everything they've done thus far. I'm really glad they tuned their style a bit because it would of gotten boring.

levi-dolphin (May 3, 2011)

score based on my first listen... sounds good.

mahalfy (May 3, 2011)

This is the best release to date for this band. Where Am I? could be their best song they have ever written although i still love youreyeah. They are definately on the right path.

gugl0003 (May 3, 2011)

Damn, you beat me to it. This is an incredibly good debut album. It's a lot more complete diverse, and musically tight than any of the EP's they've released. These guys are gonna be huge.

chokingvictim (May 3, 2011)

so fucking good. this, spraynard, and joyce manor...best records this year!

kursk64 (May 3, 2011)

Ooooh. I have an iTunes card and was tossing up if I should get this or Elway.

Decisions!

moistphily (May 3, 2011)

Mikexdude yeah i meant their last release, as in "The Last Thing You Forgot"

GarrettIrish (May 3, 2011)

I really like it. They definitely do seem more mature, and its so much more coherent as a record. I do miss some of the faster songs though.

Blackjaw_ (May 3, 2011)

It's good. Funny that people still think their last release was a proper full-length. And that everyone's surprised at how this sounds... the 4 newest songs on TLTYF sounded pretty much like this.

punkengineer (May 3, 2011)

They sound to me like the shook ones.... just not as good.

teaessare (May 3, 2011)

This really isn't a surprise for me. Great record, great band.

Lysdexia (May 3, 2011)

The second half of this record, starting with "Safe in Your Skin," is pretty brilliant. Probably one of my favorite records this year.

asxyouxwish (May 3, 2011)

album is so good. 27 is my favorite song they've written yet.

wearestillalive (May 3, 2011)

Might have to give this a chance, I like Title Fight but generally don't see what the fuss is really.

Levendus (May 3, 2011)

This album kicks ass... I love it.

MN_DrNick (May 3, 2011)

This album really took me by surprise. I honestly think it's their best.

shotmemory (May 3, 2011)

I'm thinking this is gonna be one of my favorite records of the year. I don't usually post on here, but big ups to Title Fight. Fans of fast melodic hardcore/pop punk/90's emo should check this out for sure.

mikexdude (May 3, 2011)

Moistphilly,

Last record?

mikexdude (May 3, 2011)

Yeah, this wasn't much of a surprise. But man, there are some spectacular vocals on this here record.

moistphily (May 3, 2011)

Very pleasantly surprised with this also, although I have always been a fan of these. This album feels more like an album than their last and most of the songs are really great post hardcore. However I am missing the lack of a track like 'Loud and Clear', which I still see as my favourite Title Fight song. Reckon I'll be playing this a lot in the near future.

notfeelingcreative (May 3, 2011)

Good stuff.

inagreendase (May 3, 2011)

One of my favorite LPs this year. I wouldn't say this necessarily came out of nowhere, though. The last 7" (including the unlisted track) contained heavy hints of this, even though "Symmetry" might still be their best song. Gettin' better every release, though.