Album Review: The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound Sessions

This cut ‘n’ paste collection of demo versions, covers and rarities ties in with the tenth anniversary of The Gaslight Anthem’s sophomore album ‘The 59 Sound.’ The bands unpolished, soul heavy, blue collar, just trying to do the right thing in a world full of fakes and snakes sound, is lifted to the next level. Opening and title cut ‘The 59 Sound’ has the indisputable touch of Celtic revolution, Springsteen remembrance and a Guinness draining rasp. A cover of ‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’ evokes a late night, early morning soul search before ‘Patient Ferris Wheel’ lifts despair shoulder high and celebrates it’s very being. A slowly rousing ‘Miles Davis & The Cool’ slowly bleeds with “come home” and “leave the front light on” family messages to those journeying back to heart holding pastures. The lyrics are beautifully sad. (In my late teens and early twenties my Gran (who lived next door) would wait up until she saw me walk/stagger/drive in, I’d look up and see a red cigarette tip flickering in the corner of her lounge window and some thirty years later I still look for it.) Both ‘Placeholder’ and ‘High Lonesome’ punch the Gaslight working clock while ‘Great Expectations’ has an Alkaline Trio blade held tightly to the Augustines throat. ‘Our Fathers Sons’ resonates with tales of suffering, (modern day) corporate slavery and love, love of each other, music and melancholically spirit saving songs. The sugar and spice Folk Punk infused ‘Film Noir’ completes this triumphant tenth-anniversary waltz. Suffering, tattoo’s, work shirts, flat caps, smokes, acoustic guitars and soul beaten anthems sung from whiskey aching throats, telling yarns of work, God, disillusionment and of course family.