GASLIGHT ANTHEM : American Slang

Jun 6 2010 by Paul Cole, Sunday Mercury

GASLIGHT ANTHEM American Slang

(Side One Dummy)

w I LAST saw New Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem in Hyde Park, where some bloke called Springsteen got up on stage to sing with them.

And although Brian Fallon & Co have moved on since The ‘59 Sound album, they still really want to be The Boss. There are Brucie bonuses in virtually every blue collar track, as they take songwriting cues from their influential neighbour.

Bring It On boasts a gospel-style ‘Wait a minute, wait a minute’; The Spirit Of Jazz is built for listening in an open-top car out on Thunder Road; The Diamond Church Street Choir is finger-clicking good.

Elsewhere, songs such as Boxer and the title track suggest they’ve been thumbing through the Tom Petty songbook, but given it a more contemporary makeover. It’s a song Killers could cover.

But it’s Orphans that’ll grab you by the scruff of your neck. It’s an irresistible rock and roll anthem powered by a tricksy guitar riff, paying dues to the Anthem’s post-punk roots.

They close with nostalgia. Sublime slowburner We Did It When We Were Young will have mobile phones waving in the air when they play Birmingham’s 02 Academy on June 22. Be there! PC