Send "Gaslight Anthem, The " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Absolutepunk |
 Artform will never cease being a self-involved & possessive medium for any and all onlookers. One can't help but draw their own experiences in order to relate to whatever it is they see or hear from any artist, whether it be a painter, musician or filmmaker. Part of including our own relation to a piece is referring to our historical worldview, always spotting influence & inspiration. A song lyric, a brush stroke or even part of a character's outift -- we're bound to pick out what we recognize, making it easier as participants to relate to the artist's motivation and our own perspective.In five short years, New Jersey quartet the Gaslight Anthem have gone from punk rock bruisers to one of the most celebrated & prolific modern rock acts on the scene. Much of that success stems from the band's ability to seamlessly weave influences into their music, both in terms of lyrical reference and overall sound. With their 2008 breakthrough, The '59 Sound, music fans relished the opportunity to hear a large combination of influence from Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Presley, something that was heard not only through the raspy vocal charm of Brian Fallon, but also through a more traditional, old-school production (courtesy of Ted Hutt, who is also present on this record). Many of the themes and style were reminescent of 1950's rock n' roll, something the band used to their advantage. With their third full-length, American Slang, the distinction between individual art and influence continues to grow, offering everyone on board a chance to carefully sift through and pay tribute to the influential legends, all while concocting their own sound for the future....full text |
| Musicomh |
| As far as patronages go it doesn't get much better than Bruce Springsteen lavishing praise upon you. The Boss played with The Gaslight Anthem at Glastonbury and then Hyde Park last year, lending his vocals to the stadium-sized '59 Sound - it was something of an occasion. When Bruce landed on his arse halfway through his own set yelling "help me out here, I'm a fucking old man" it felt a little like the giant once described by Jon Landau as "the future of Rock 'n' Roll" was passing the baton on to his young charges. The Springsteen comparisons The Gaslight Anthem have garnered are warranted for the most part. The anthemic quality of American Slang and Brian Fallon's well weathered vocals nod to his influence, while the chanted backing vocals evoke The E Street Band in their pomp. However, for all of the similarities, there are enough differences to set them well apart from the man Little Steven might well refer to as "The Employer". Most notable is the band's desire to get to the payoff quickly. There's no hanging around for exposition, no six-minute Thunder Road style epics here. If there's a way to turn a ballad into a fist-pumping cathartic release, Fallon and his cohorts make it possible. The unrelenting put downs of Old Haunts, for example, develop an uplifting spirit purely through the strength of melody....full text |
| Ew |
| These New Brunswick, N.J., boys have a big jones for Springsteen, which explains why American Slang's filled with streetlights and freight trains and American girls. But they reclaim the Boss' working-class desperation for punks. With shouted-till-we're-hoarse vocals, taut guitars, and a grizzled demeanor that suggests too many night shifts, they've got Garden State attitude down. B+...full text |
Gaslight Anthem, The lyrics
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