The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
American gruff rockers give more of the same on their second record.
How the hell do you follow an album like 'The 59 Sound'? The challenge that was ahead of The
Gaslight Anthem following their startling breakthrough was a towering one, and one that nearly beat
Brian Fallon. Much press time was given over to the writer’s block he struggled through trying to
come up with material that stood up to the standards of their sophomore release. The results are
good enough, but don’t believe too much of what you read, because a lot’s been said for the band
moving away from the previous album’s sound, which really is not the case.
Of course, for many of you, that’s not a problem in the slightest. So while these tracks almost all
carry the traces of Springsteen’s legacy, the band have lost none of their skill for penning incredibly
likeable songs that are as easy to relate to as they are to remember. They craft their retro sounds
into something of worth even to notorious loathers of nostalgia (like this reviewer), and never once
seem desperate or as if they’re trading off the success of others. The title track itself is the sound of
a band now used to bigger stages, and the double punch of the rockier ‘Orphans’ and ‘Boxer’ provide a pair of their finest songs to date.
The only genuine surprise of 'American Slang' is that it’s so bloody short; it’s barely thirty five minutes
long, which may leave some fans feeling short-changed, but whatever writer’s block affected Fallon
has gone, he’s already working on new material. Lyrically, the band have moved from the wistful
hopefulness of 'The ’59 Sound' to more personal material that’s rooted in realism and even more
entrenched in tales of struggle. Despite the improved songwriting, the album can be seen as being
held back by how little it’s sound has moved on, and there’s some irony to the lines “Don't sing me
the songs about the good times/ Those days are gone and you should just let them go”, but while this
won’t convert many more fans, the legions they drew with their previous release will be more than
satisfied.
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