The aggressive, militant Future of the Left pull punch after punch on their second full-length, Travels With Myself and Another. The band creates songs that are simultaneously ruthless (let Future of the Left soundtrack your next Shark Week) and melodic. These two elements merge especially well in opener "Arming Eritrea" and first single "The Hope that House Built," the former with its unforgettable bridge and the latter with its slow, stomping rhythm section and surprisingly singalongable (© Tim Gilman 2009) lyrics. Other tracks, like "I Am Civil Service" and "Land Of My Formers," place Kelson Mathias' bass playing at the forefront, which reinforces the band's cutthroat nature and provides relief from contemporary indie rock's plethora of guitar-focused bands. Turn this one up really, really loud and enjoy.
Video: The Hope that House Built
