|
Review Navigator   FeaturesContestsReviews
| Gaslight AnthemThe '59 Sound2008 SideOneDummy 
  Review by: LiamSK See others by this writer The Gaslight Anthem (official site) (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on August 19th 2008
The Gaslight Anthem’s debut album Sink or Swim turned a lot of heads upon its release, and the band become quickly singled out as one to watch for the future. The effortless blend of punk, soul and blues; the poetic, atmospheric lyrics which powerfully evoked nostalgic imagery of rural America offered its listeners a soft, melodic, Americana sound. Their next release, the four-track EP Señor and the Queen, cemented their reputation as punk rock’s worst-kept secret, and paved the way towards a European headlining tour as well as a spot on the 2008 Warped Tour. The anticipation surrounding this album has been immense, and when you combine this with the the recent announcement of a fall tour with Rise Against, Alkaline Trio and Thrice, and the out-of-nowhere appearance on the cover of Kerrang! magazine in the United Kingdom, it seems as though all the cards are in place for this album to be the one that strikes it rich for the Gaslight Anthem.
People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
Three for Three with great records, amazing songs and great songwriting this band is disgusting. When I first listened to this, I thought it was extremely bland. It was slow and kinda boring. It wasn't till my 3rd or so listen that I really started to appreciate it. Now I understand why people think this is the best album of the year. I am waiting for them to write a bad record but I do not think it will happen When it comes from the heart it comes out right. These guys crafted an album with the intention of every track being built for the stage. I can't wait to catch the show and I can't stop listening to the album. Good, not great. The reverb and the lack of variation in the vocals make the lyrics drown out at times, like punk-ambient white noise I'm just not feeling it. I mean maybe if I was doing the soundtrack for a movie about a teenage girl running away and finding herself or just on a really long drive with one of my parents, it would be on my playlist, but on a normal day it probably get much of my rotation. Great record. Finally someone is making true punk once again. Cant wait to see them live on halloween. Best album of the year..... so far. good album but sometimes this band just seems alomst too earnest. Springsteen is never hard to listen to lyrically but sometimes Gaslight is for me. Also, they reference The Counting Crows. Blurg. just to add my 2 cents, unnecessary as they are; I like it, though I can see why people might take issue with the reverb on his voice. Look past that and you've got a cracking record with great lyrics "Does anyone else think that Patient Ferris Wheel is the best song of this album?" pretty good, sink or swim was pretty good too. a couple of the songs remind me of hotwatermusic songs. i feel a little bouncing souls at times, not a bad sound at all. i like it All the songs are in the same key and have the same progression and nothing on this album grows from their previous work. It may be catchy it sure isn't useful or exciting. has punk gotten this stagnant? how could a mediocre release by a derivative new jersey bar rock band become the album of the year? sink or swim was a pretty decent album, i havent heard this yet but everything im reading has me excited for it. that being said, can these guys really be called "punk"? i dont know where one would classify them, but squashing them into the admittedly bloated punk category doesnt seem right. and they referenced a fucking counting crows song. not only referenced it, totally ganked the chorus. ugh. has everyone heard the itunes exclusive song, "once upon a time?" too much time was spent on the production http://www.aversion.com/bands/reviews.cfm?review=3731&artist=The Gaslight Anthem&title=The '59 Sound This album is amazing. Just saw them play live on Long Island, one of the greastest bands of the present day. "i'm glad TheMike mentioned the killers in his comment because i thought i was the only one picking that up." Perfect driving around album. i'm glad TheMike mentioned the killers in his comment because i thought i was the only one picking that up. Absolutely love this album. Seems like a tight solid album, but it still doesn't really do anything for me. Meet Me By The River's Edge - references "The River" by Springsteen Not as good as Thursday. The more I listen to this cd the more it grows on me. There is some great lyrics in these songs. Great band with a lot ahead of them. Saw them at Asbury Lanes in the beginning of the summer. That will probably be the smallest venue I will see them again in. Well deserved. massively overrated band. really can't see why so many stroke one off over these. a bog standard album This may easily grab #1 on my top of '08. Lagrecia, Static Radio, Polar Bear Club, Paint It Black, No Harm Done, Landmines, Less Than Jake, Everybody Out!, and The Mongoloids are most likely going to round it out, but we'll see... "I LOVE them, but we need a list going of what lines they lift from other music/film/books. Probably won;t be left with much." I was at the CD store today, but this wasn't there. i dig pick up Alligator by the National, though. Which is a great album. So it seems, anyway. I still think I like "sink or swim" more because it was more rockin', had more energy and faster songs. I miss the stuff like "drive" and "I woulda called you woodie joe" and "wooderson" that reminded me of the Loved Ones mixed with HWM. listening to this again at work. "I LOVE them, but we need a list going of what lines they lift from other music/film/books. Probably won;t be left with much." >>I LOVE them, but we need a list going of what lines they lift from other music/film/books. Probably won;t be left with much. Does anyone else think that Patient Ferris Wheel is the best song of this album? I still don't understand how anyone can think 'Sink or Swim' is better than this. That album was painfully mediocre...this is amazing. I don't see what any of this has to do with the Descendents. I know I'm just repeating what everyone else is saying... but this album has to be album of the year... sorry about the double post, the internet is kind of shitty in iraq i remember back when sink or swim, everyone was making a big deal about these guys. It took me a while to get into SOS but this record instantly clicked with me. from the first listen of "Here's Looking at You, Kid" to the title track, and "Great Expectations", there's just something in the songs and the sincere lyrics that make Gaslight Anthem stick out from most other "punk" bands today. For some reason, you can just tell that they enjoy doing what they are doing. i remember back when sink or swim, everyone was making a big deal about these guys. It took me a while to get into SOS but this record instantly clicked with me. from the first listen of "Here's Looking at You, Kid" to the title track, and "Great Expectations", there's just something in the songs and the sincere lyrics that make Gaslight Anthem stick out from most other "punk" bands today. For some reason, you can just tell that they enjoy doing what they are doing. The point is that Miles Davis is amazing. "miles davis & the cool" is the best song about miles davis since the ergs "books about miles davis" I simply love this band good stuff. go steelers! @ Vincent I have yet to get into these guys. I listened to this record today and it just seems dull to me. Nothing about the music sticks out, and the lyrics seem very safe. They seem to be like the new Against Me!, but AM! had all that raw aggression and power, this just seems like bland highschool party makeout music... What am I doing wrong? its "and in my head theres all these classic cars and OUTLAW cowboy bands" I LOVE them, but we need a list going of what lines they lift from other music/film/books. Probably won;t be left with much. "miles davis & the cool" is the best song about miles davis since the ergs "books about miles davis" I just found out that "High and Lonesome" contains a paraphrased Counting Crows lyric: This is right there as my favorite of the year, every one is comparing it to Sink Or Swim which I think is a hard comparison because it is softer. If you can get past the echoed vocals (which I think are just fine, but not for every song) and the fact that they are not simply a "punk" band, I think the record is amazing. The lyrics are some of the best written songs Gaslight/Brian has EVER done. My only problem is that there are no straight-up acoustic songs... that was a bummer. Good review, very good record. Was never a big fan of this band. I haven't been able to get into a new punk in a long time. But I loved the title track. But I figured, it's probably just one really neat song among a bunch of duds. I checked out some amazon previews, though, and nearly all of them carry the same sad-without-making-you-want-to-kill-yourself vibe. And I think I might like this a lot. Sounds more like a rock album with punk tendencies, though. Which is fine by me. Also, isn't the line from Casanova Baby "Boy, I stil wanna be your man" and not "But I still won't be your man" I wish this review would have given this lame shit 1/2 a star. The org comments would be out of this world as far as laughability goes. Now it's going to be a bunch of people stroking the dick of this band... This record suuuuuuuuuucks! abnd let it out let it out let it out you're doing alright i'll second the complaint from the dude who said there's too much reverb on the vocals and it softens it up. kind of conjurs up a "tiger army" vibe which I doubt they were going for. it doesn't immediatly pump my nads like "sink or swim" did, but its off the chain. this band rules, probably the most promising new punk band I've gotten into since "the loved ones" and if anything I like these guys better. this band is ok. i just dont see all the hype around them. abnd this abnd suck...and like everything else they do it is simply glorious band sucks. Some good tracks, not as good as SOS, and definetly not album of the year. Great album minus a couple tracks. I can't wait to see some of these live. 'Miles Davis' slays. Glad they are getting the attention they deserve as they write better songs than pretty much every band featured on this site. 1930 demo originally called She Coulda Raised the Titanic and recored by This Charming Man @ Toby I just ate a really good sandwich. The problem is, it would have been way better with some potato chips, but I only have a $10 and the food court in my building is closed. Now I'm still just a little hungry and I don't know what to do. Score is for mikexdude making me laugh Seriously? Gaslight is way better than Strike Anywhere. Here's a dilemma: Insinceredave, that's what she said. Looking forward to getting my hands on this I don't think this is better than Sink or Swim, but it's close. Film Noir, Great Expectations, Casanova, and a few others are some of their best. I don't like this band. Can't talk shit about them. Just don't like them. Sounds pretty bland to me. Noir* Film Noor and Miles Davis and the Cool give me boosebumps. Best songs on the album. Terrific album. I've listened to it non stop for a week and i'm still not sick of it. Not a weak song in the bunch. This CD lacks the piss and vinegar found in Sink or Swim. I like every song on this disc, but throw them together and its a bit underwhelming. It feels like a lot of the same thing despite a lot of the songs sounding completely different. I'm fairly sure if they did a different production on the vocals keeping them gritty rather than throwing the reverb which softens everything up, I'd probably like the disc a more as well. Yet another fawning review: the songs on this are better than sink or swim Pretty good. Production sucks. It's no Sink or Swim. Still though, pretty good. I still don't have this yet. Fuck! This album is fucking awesome. Worth all the hype, everything this band has done is great. Although I like Sink Or Swim better, I can't stop listening to this. Mediocre at best. sickboi, thanks for keeping it civil. i haven't heard all this, i'll have to check this all out and give it a chance Yea they closed over a year ago. Karl and company are gone. bert's is gone? what the hell "haha, dude that was totally me. listening to it right now. come down to the east in cafe and i'll let you listen to it. To "Problem With Fire": Posting in a Gaslight Anthem Review. Amazing album, start to end. From Brian's blues/soul/rock influences like Sam Cooke, Tom Petty and Marvin Gaye; to Benny's jazz-meets-punk drumming; to Ghost's blatant, yet justified Cure-inspired lead guitar. But what I enjoyed most was Big Sleaze's improvements on bass. For someone who learned to play just prior to joining the band, he's come a long way. Especially dig the Radiohead "Creep" effect he uses on title track. correction: people absolutely LOVE this BAND around here. i'm not sure they are worth this much adoration. they put on a live show and make some decent music but i personally still cannot get over the fact how forced their "working class" shtick feels. just look at the cover of this thing! but hey, at least they aren't wearing eyeliner and flat ironing their hair to the side. holy shit people here fucking LOVE this album. these guys are what yellowcard is to absolutepunk.net The low score is for cancelling out all the other high scores. OK everybody has it, everybody is enjoying them touring, does anybody have a live version (not youtube) of them doing American Girl? Any live sets floating around besides that weird acoustic thing? i must have missed something cause i have been following all the hype from the very beginning and even pre-ordered a copy. i love half of it but it gets redundant. the lyrics are great, but damn, after track 6 or 7, I just skip to "heres looking at you, kid" (best track) and take it out. i'm sure this band sucks. Am I seriously the only person pissed about the vocals? It's still a good album, but damn...it could be so much better without those silly effects. It's near perfection. First I claimed so much about the production, now I think it's good even thought I'd like so much to listen to a second version of the album in a "Sink or Swim" way. haha, dude that was totally me. listening to it right now. come down to the east in cafe and i'll let you listen to it. Fuck the guy who went to Rainbow Records in Newark, DE who bought the last copy right as I walked in. Your tats are lame. God damn. Punk Alot of comments already. Diggity doowoop damn! "I saw daylights last night and I dreamed about my first wife. "Casanova, Baby!" is one of the catchiest damn songs on this album. I've been listening to this non-stop since it leaked, and I'm still not even close to being sick of it. Its good but I like the tempo of Sink or Swim much better. Maybe it will grow on me but I was not blown away by any stretch. Solid, plenty of good moments but can't ever see liking it more then Sink or Swim. I like the Bastards of Young side of that split better then this so far. I agree with 24hourpriapism, especially about the whole MTV/disowning thing. This band really is nothing special. I mean, to each his own, but seriously, I cannot justify the hype at all. noice This album is almost flawless. One of my top 5 of the year. pretty awesome, can't wait to pay an obscene amount of money to see them on that rise against tour. Really, really good record. Really enjoying this album, and glad I got it while summer's still here. Definitely a good soundtrack for the season. Whoa...this record totally lives up to the hype. From the Kerrang website album of the year. Great album. In my top 5 of the year indefinitely. Album of the Year, in my opinion. Love this record, love this band. Hype is indeed diserved. This shit is so good. I can't currently say this is better than Sink or Swim, but it could eventually pass it. Easily one of the top albums of the year...no doubt. I dont care what anybody says... i have a serious obsession with this band right now. Soundtrack of my life. Can not WAIT to see them with A3, Thrice and Rise Against... I pre ordered this which to me suggests that i should have got it today, but alas, all I got in the post today was a massive biochemistry textbook also, i'm pretty sure the powers that be are setting gaslight up to become the next jimmy eat world. i just have a really funny feeling that their songs are going to be popping up on The Hills and various WB teen dramas really, really soon. and then the .org will disown them, and i'll say i told you so. saw them on sunday night with polar bear club, was not impressed. copped the album for free last night (promo copy at the store), and still for the life of me, cannot get into this. the instrumentals are great, and the lyrics WOULD be great if sung by a more charismatic, distinctive lead singer. I'll probably won't slobber over this like most people would but I do agree that "The '59 Sound" is definitely better over "Sink or Swim". score is for both the album and the massive shit i just took in the office bathroom. it smells like death. and death would get 5 stars. score is for both the album and the massive shit i just took in the office bathroom. it smells like death. and death would get 5 stars. quite good, a band that all the hype actually lives up to. still love blue jeans and white t shirts tho, man that song is brilliance-oldpunker- my 2008 number two, just behind the night marchers. i give it an 8.5. Point off for the slap vocals that I really don't notice anymore. Absolute Punk needs to choke on a cock. absolutepunk review Max Bemis thinks that album sucks. oh, my world Album of the year. Still, not THAT much better than "Sink Or Swim." Is anyone going to review the matt pryor chris conley tour???????? i'm actually amazed at how much i like this record being that i didn't care for the band when they opened for the loved ones a few months ago. only thing i'm not sold on is the echo on the vocals. something about that bugs me. overall i'd say the record isn't quite up there with the loved ones or the hold steady's for my favorite of the year but it's definately light years ahead of most everything else I'm new here, but just wanted to comment on the album of the year (Maybe tied with LaGrecia, but right now this one's winning). this shit is crazy dope. sonic bliss. Great follow up. Not the best record I've heard this year, but top 5. As much as I love this band, I just don't think these lyrics are impressive enough to go higher than 8/10. it's good. This is in a two-way dogfight with the Lawrence Arms' "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and Alkaline Trio's "Maybe I'll Catch Fire" for my favorite album. It deserves every bit of praise it has and will receive. Come on guys. Fight Fight Fight!!! thats cool that the editors posted some alternate reviews in the comments. I like the additional two reviews posted below, although I didn't read them, because this one was really fantastic. Nice job. I like it better than Sink or Swim. Posting in a epic thread this isn't as good as everyone here will make it out to be. I'm posting to get my score in there, and then never looking at this again. This is not only my favorite record of the year, it's my favorite of all time. Posting in an epic thread, but on a serious note, this record is awesome. Record of the Year. If I had to choose an album to describe my thoughts and life at the moment, this would be it. Can't say enough about this album/band. Love "Great Expectations," "Here's Looking At You Kid," and the title track, but they're all top notch. So can people finally stop talking about this album now? Easily album of the year 2008. Inside the top 3 albums of all time on my list. Easily their best. Also, I am wearing my red and gray flannel today in celebration of this album's release, even though I don't slobber over this band as much as the lot of you. Probably my favorite album of the year. Really just an incredibly solid record. Great record. yeah isn't the line outlaw cowboy bands? I'm still waiting for my copy in the mail so I can't say for sure but Alamo doesn't make a lot of sense. I anxiously await the completion of my work day so I can go buy this. "alamo cowboy bands?" davy crockett and jim bowie are stoked I'm glad I didn't bother putting my ideas down to screen there is enough of them floating around. simply put Gaslight lives and breaths the history of rock n roll. they know their way around a song in the exact same way a good friend knows just the right buttons to push to completely break down your fronts and facades. best fucking band going right now. |
