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Album Details

• Artist: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
• Album: Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead EP
• Label: Lookout
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-12-04

Media

"Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead" is actually a single off of Ted Leo's full-length released earlier this year, Hearts of Oak. It is the only track on this EP where he actually utilizes the rest of the Pharmacists. It's a great track and if you haven't heard it yet, this is the prefect opportunity. "The High Party" is actually one of the highlights on the EP. Ted is going at it with only his guitar. It reminds me of something that Elvis Costello would do. It was recorded by Dave Marsh for "Now Hear This on WHFS FM in DC and broadcast March 30, 2003. There are a handful of cool covers he's included here like the Jam's "Ghosts", Ewan McColl's "Dirty Old Town", and Split Enz's awesome "Six Months In A Leaky Boat", all of which Leo nails perfectly with just his guitar and vocals. Again, Ted provides us with another brilliant original, kind of a "Fuck You" to the US. "Loyal To My Sorrowful Country" which he conveniently leaves out the first couple words in the title, "No longer shall I be". I don't know why Ted decided to include the annoying track "Decaying Artifact" that is basically just digital garbage. I made a comparison to Elvis Costello earlier in this review. I am willing to bet that in the next few years we see the brilliance of Ted Leo break out and people begin to see that he is equally apt.

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