Ted Leo is one of the most acrobatic indie vocalists of all time. He takes a run up, flies into fluttering falsetto and nosedives with a pop-punk drawl. With these theatrics, ‘The Tyranny of Distance’ forgoes a weaponised awkwardness common to East Coast indie rock – the one that kicks the ground and mumbles “you’re gonna regret not choosing the nice guy”. This is power pop, and the shamelessly approachable melodies breathe their extraversion into Leo’s already nimble frontman performance. Fittingly, the title implies that there’s peace and comfort to being close. Aren’t your favourite strangers to meet the ones who look you in the eye?
26/30
A favourite: ‘Dial Up’
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