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The Gaslight Anthem
Best danced to whilst in the dark
Mon 11 Aug 2008 10:38
Come on, seriously, people are raving about this band but at the same time conceding that they sound 'a bit' like Bruce Springsteen.

That's very much like saying Bruce Springsteen sounds 'a bit' like Bruce Springsteen.

I like their 'The '59 Sound' album, quite a lot in fact, but it may as well be a Springsteen covers CD.

If you like Springsteen's earlier/faster stuff then you'll like it, but I can't help thinking that the likes of Kerrang! are setting the majority of their readership up for a fall with this.
Tue 12 Aug 2008 09:37
Better they sound a bit like Bruce Springsteen than yet another nu-emo band raking in the benjamins whilst sounding exactly like Taking Back Sunday or Dashboard Confessional.

Aren't Kerrang always championing the likes of Him, Avenged Sevenfold, Madina Lake, Linkin Park, Funeral For a Friend and Lostprophets? It'd be good to see them covering some more interesting bands for their readership.

I liked what I heard of the older Gaslight Anthem stuff so I may check out the new album.
Tue 12 Aug 2008 10:35
I agree that it's good that Kerrang! are being more open-minded, I just think it's the band themselves who will suffer. The way they're being portrayed is just not the way they actually sound and, I suspect, most Kerrang! readers will not like that sound.

In turn, that'll lead to those people thinking the band are 'shit', rather than realising that it was Kerrang! that mislead them into thinking they're something they're not.
Tue 12 Aug 2008 11:36
It's a fair point, I haven't read the article or heard the new record but I'm guessing that Kerrang are misrepresenting the band a bit? To me they sound like one of those rootsy punk bands like The Loved Ones that I'm usually a sucker for.

It's strange how they pick these bands to champion though, weren't Converge on the cover the other day? I suppose if it gets a few kids to realise there's more to contemporary music than Him or 30 Seconds to Mars then it's mission accomplished.
Tue 12 Aug 2008 12:24
Yes, they did have a Converge cover story not so long ago. That I could understand more because at least some Kerrang! kids would get into the feel of it.

Given that, as you say, the majority of Kerrang!'s focus is generally Him, Slipknot or Avenged Sevenfold I just can't imagine many of their readers going for what it basically a Springsteen album recorded by blokes with lots of tattoos.
Fri 15 Aug 2008 15:01
I dunno, I doubt your average HIM or Slipknot fan is going to jump on board the Converge wagon, could be a funny experiment though.

Just out of interest, which Springsteen records do you think TGA sound like? I'm not familiar with the Bosses four to the floor phase but I'd be interested in hearing it. Just read that Chris Wollard is on their new album too. : )
Fri 15 Aug 2008 15:06
Reply to Post 26859 by brianfantana in The Gaslight Anthem Just out of interest, which Springsteen records do you think TGA sound like?


It's not so much that they specifically sound like any particular Springsteen records, it's just an overall feel that they have. It's mainly the vocals but the whole vibe of it reeks of Springsteen to me - the early stuff, rather than the 'Born In The USA' era stuff.
Fri 15 Aug 2008 15:54
But you said it sounded like 'a Springsteen covers CD' so I was wondering which tracks it sounded like they were covering?! : )

I can definitely hear the Springsteen in there, but the stuff I've heard seems 'punkier' but I suppose the same could be said of Lucero, Against Me! and The Loved Ones.

Everyone interprets music differently though.
Sat 16 Aug 2008 14:19
I have to admit I'd never even listened to them because Kerrang! championed them. Based on your comments, I'm now listening to them on myspace and they are very very good. I can definately hear the Springsteen influence - and anyone who knows me knows how much I love Springsteen.
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Mon 18 Aug 2008 08:53
Shippy got me into these recently, been listenig this weekend. Very similar to another band he's been banging on about The Hold Steady. I like it, gruff simple, melodic and makes a bit of a change despite being a bit of a Springsteen tribute act.
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Mon 18 Aug 2008 17:37
I can definitely hear the Springsteen influence, but there's also elements of Tom Petty and all sorts of other stuff going on. There's a big nod to Counting Crows in 'High Lonesome' too. : )
Wed 27 Aug 2008 18:00
My copy of The 59 Sound turned up on Thursday, just in time for me to stick it on the MP3 player before flying off on holiday. I haven't been able to stop listening to it all week inbetween trips to Port Aventura!!! Looks like it'll be sticking with me for a long time after I return to the good old rainy England on Friday ...
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Fri 29 Aug 2008 08:15
I'm totally addicted to it too, great album! : )
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Mon 1 Sep 2008 19:23
I'm a fan of these guys too, great album : )
Tue 2 Sep 2008 20:01
My copy of 59 came yesterday after seeing this post and checking out their website.

Its a great album and hasnt been out of my cd player.

Love the underproduced rock n roll vibe it has...yeah it has a bit of the boss about it, but so what its a fucking great album!!!!!!!!!!