Favorite New Music: The Gaslight Anthem
posted by RichmanVA
The Gaslight Anthem
The ‘59 Sound
SideOneDummy
2008
http://www.gaslightanthem.com/
1. Great Expectations
2. The ‘59 Sound
3. Old White Lincoln
4. High Lonesome
5. Film Noir
6. Miles Davis And The Cool
7. The Patient Ferris Wheel
8. Casanova, Baby!
9. Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
10. Meet Me By The River´s Edge
11. Here´s Looking At You Kid
12. The Backseat
I have to say that I was really let down by the Señor And The Queen EP that Gaslight Anthem released earlier this year. It was my first exposure to the band and they had been hyped up to me so much that I was expecting something akin to the second coming. Instead, all I heard was a sub par outing with off key vocals and little to no hooks.
They totally make up for that with The ‘59 Sound, their first full length for Side One Dummy. It’s a wonderfully recorded, stripped down rock n’ roll record with sing alongs galore. The sound may be reminiscent of east coast counterparts The Loved Ones or Bouncing Souls, but The Gaslight Anthem bring flashes of 50’s rockabilly, late 70’s brit pop, and 80’s roots rock that make it hard to completely lump them into the “org-core” punk rock scene.
This is a band that proudly wear their influences like a badge. They name check Tom Petty and Elvis Presley, showcase a bass line on “Old White Lincoln” that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Joy Division record and write hook-y bar rock melodies that would make Bruce Springsteen and Paul Westerberg proud.
Move over Able Baker Fox, The Gaslight Anthem has released my favorite record of the year.
You can check out their live show on November 18 when they play The Myth Nightclub with Rise Against and Alkaline Trio.
“The ‘59 Sound” (live in Los Angeles)
“I’m on Fire” (Bruce Springsteen cover live in Germany)