Ted Leo’s new album, Living With the Living, will be out soon on Touch and Go. Here’s a first peek at it.

MP3: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Sons of Cain
Quite possibly the thing I love most about Ted Leo songs is his ability to align his guitar parts so well with the melody, in fact even the heart of the song. On “The Sons of Cain,” we’re treated to a few seconds of drum intro before his characteristically charged guitar rips in, full of passion. But also true to form, Ted Leo is a poet. His amped-up instrumentation is just a way for him to preach the gospel; though not quite “good news” in every case. Rather, this song reflects his frustrations: “But alone I’ve got to sing just to exist.”