Say hello to The Gaslight Anthem. Dare I suggest the majority of you haven’t heard of them?? Well, some might know them simply as the band that got Bruce Springsteen to join them on stage during their performance at Glastonbury this year. Well, this is their album “The ’59 Sound”.
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Advantages: A great album Disadvantages: The odd track can 'sound the same'
Say hello to The Gaslight Anthem. Dare I suggest the majority of you haven’t heard of them?? Well, some might know them simply as the band that got Bruce Springsteen to join them on stage during their performance at Glastonbury this year. Well, this is their album “The ’59 Sound”.
Released in 2008 on SideOneDummy Records, it’s a twelve-track album which instantly personifies the ‘Americana’ type of band. Big choruses, full of melodies ... ...glitzy guitar solo.
The opening track, “Great Expectations”, is just that. Big glorious choruses and verses that contain muted guitar riffs and snare-infected drum loops. The reference to Bruce Springsteen early is clear to see in their music – it’s genuine rock music. Listen to it on your stereo, and then imagine to loud and it can make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Say hello to The Gaslight Anthem. Dare I suggest the majority of you haven’t heard of them?? Well, some might know them simply as the band that got Bruce Springsteen to join them on stage during their performance at Glastonbury this year. Well, this is their album “The ’59 Sound”.
Released in 2008 on SideOneDummy Records, it’s a twelve-track album which instantly personifies the ‘Americana’ type of band. Big choruses, full of melodies and short instrumental interludes and breakdowns – usually surrounding a glitzy guitar solo.
The opening track, “Great Expectations”, is just that. Big glorious choruses and verses that contain muted guitar riffs and snare-infected drum loops. The reference to Bruce Springsteen early is clear to see in their music – it’s genuine rock music. Listen to it on your stereo, and then imagine to loud and it can make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
The album’s title track was the first experience I had of the band, and it still stands out to me as one of, if not the best track off the album. The reason? The catchy chorus, which starts with lead singer Brian Fallon crying out “Did you hear the 59 sound?” is infectious. I’m a sucker for songs like this, and many people are…a few of you will love it too if you hear it for the first time after reading this.
Tracks such as “Old Lincoln White” and “High Lonesome” went by relatively unannounced on my first couple of listen to the album, but that’s possibly due to the first couple of great tracks. But give them their due, they equally strong tracks and prove that throughout the album there’s not just a couple of tracks acting as the spine of the album – there’s plenty of highlights rather than plenty of basic filler music.
There are moments when a punk element outweighs the Americana side of things – “The Patient Ferris Wheel” is a song that oozes ‘punk’ due to the opening guitar riff and drum beat. Very fast, distorted and something not too dissimilar to the likes of the Offspring.
Other highlights include “Casanova, Baby!” - a song that combines quieter verses and loud choruses. Fallon’s gravel-like vocals work perfectly on this track. They use the age-old patent of stopping the music while the singer proclaims something before kicking back into the chorus. Works every time.
I think it’s rather obvious I’d recommend this little number. Yes, some people will argue many tracks are frankly too ‘similar’ for this to be a five-star album, and where it to be five-star then we’d all have to argue that more of you will have heard of this band. But do yourself a favour a make your new favourite band of the day the Gaslight Anthem. If the Boss is happy to grace the same stage as them then they must be half decent!
Advantages: They have taken the best from some loved icons and made it their own Disadvantages: Is it ground breaking enough to crack a tough genre?
Being a new listener of the Gaslight Anthem, this was my first experience of their somewhat original sound. Firing up the CD, i immediatly listened to their title track 59 sound, the stand out track of the album. The song, much in the same vain of their heroes Alkaline trio, is about death and loss. However, the song remains somewhat upbeat and positive. The fantastic husky vocals remind you of Matt Skibia of Alkaline Trio, but has enough originality ... ...to the album, i familerised myself with the other tracks. The opening track Great Expectations, with a quick tempo and sing along lyrics paied with a distinct country sound, draws you into the album, and sets the atmosphere well. However, It does not stand out compared to the outstanding title track which comes next! As mentioned earlier, 59 sound (track) is the clincher in this album, and you'll find yourself putting it on repeat!
The third song, ...
feralspecies 17.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of '59 Sound, The - Gaslight Anthem (The)
Advantages: Carrys on where last album left off Disadvantages: Similar sound tracks
...to get told of The '59 Sound. I can say that it doesn't disappoint and carries on from where the previous album left off. The familiar sound is there and Brian Fallon distinctive vocals are as good as ever. My only minor critism, which maybe effect the longevity of this in my CD player, is that it can become quite samey. This isn't a bad thing if you love the band tho!
If you've not heard the band before, I'd say it's for fans of Hot Water Music, ...
hinton46 18.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of '59 Sound, The - Gaslight Anthem (The)
Advantages: Some great catchy tunes Disadvantages: Non
...Gaslight Anthems second album 'The '59 Sound' and it didn't disappoint me. Opening with 'Great Expectations' and then breaking into the fantastic '59 sound' I was hooked straight away. Mr Fallons distinctive voice draws you in song after song and gets your foot tapping, from the rockier '59 Sound to the more bluesy 'Even Cowgirls get the Blues.' Whilst I love this album I don't think its quite as strong as their first offering 'Sink of Swim' as I ... ...non the less it is a good album and it doesn't disappoint. Definately recommend this album to anyone looking for something new.
The Gaslight Anthem are pretty much relatively obscure outside of the US but have quite a following now in the UK. Kerrang! magazine said they are "The best new band you'll hear in 2008". And I definately agree with that they totally rock and having seen them play live i'm a huge fan as these guys really are the real thing ...
bug_babe 17.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of '59 Sound, The - Gaslight Anthem (The)
Product Information for "'59 Sound, The - Gaslight Anthem (The)" »
Product details
Title
'59 Sound, The
Performer
Gaslight Anthem (The)
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Alternative
Release Date
18/08/2008
Original Release Year
2008
Label / Distributor
Side One Dummy / PIAS UK/Sony DADC
Producer
Tedd Hunt
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
603967135824
Catalogue Number
SD 13582
Additional notes
Album Notes
A kind of classic rock that you'd hear on classic-rock radio if there was any justice in the world, Gaslight Anthem's THE '59 SOUND is a down-to-earth gem that touches on the big-hearted rock of their fellow Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen and the poppy, put-together side of the Replacements. With cool, echo-laden production that hints at rockabilly bounce, and a guitar sound that shimmers like moonlight on the hood of a car, songs like "Old White Lincoln" and "Casanova Baby" speak for the young romantic in every town. They called it THE '59 SOUND, but it's really pretty timeless.
Album Reviews
Alternative Press (p.148) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Fallon's lyrics continue to embrace the Americana ethos that is successfully married with a soulful punk sound as timeless as the sentiments that inspire him." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.48) - "If you've ever felt love's sting, ever wished a summer would never end or ever felt hopes and promises crumble into dust, hearing THE '59 SOUND might just have the same effect on you." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.65) - Ranked #2 in Kerrang's Best Albums Of The Year 2008 -- "[O]ne of the hottest rock bands of the year." Q (Magazine) (p.107) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[They] blast out affecting, soulful punk rock strewn with bittersweet memories of small-town, blue-collar America."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Great Expectations
2.
'59 Sound
3.
Old White Lincoln
4.
High Lonesome
5.
Film Noir
6.
Miles Davis And The Cool
7.
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.
Backseat
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Listed on Ciao since
17/05/2008
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