Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 38
 It's a gas August 4, 2010
The Outsider (London)
The Gaslight Anthem top their debut Sink or Swim with this masterful collection of power-punk tunes in the mold of Springsteen, et.al. With their influences to the fore, worn as proudly as Dylan wore Woody Guthrie and Springsteen, Bob Dylan, the boys from Jersey blast through catchy, thought provoking and infectious material they will find hard to better. This is their 'The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle'. While all the tracks are very good to excellent, the first three are show-stoppers. 'Great Expectations', 'The 59 Sound' and 'Lincoln' are as good as it gets. No wonder the Boss is a fan and promoted the band at 2009's Glastonbury and Hard Rock festival by joining them on stage.
All of the musicians wring the best out of every song. I love the vocals, the intricate guitar work and the powerhouse drumming and bass playing. One of my choices for album of the year, 2009 (it came out late October 2008).
They are in London in October, so hurry up and get tickets. Catch them before it's a stadium only band.
 A reasonable attempt July 27, 2010
MikeyTage (Lancashire, UK)
The Gaslight Anthem try to bridge a strange gap between Springsteen blue collar "good ol' boys" rock songs about girls named Maria and the gruff punk rock of bands like Hot Water Music and new British bands such as The Don Ramos Players and Above Them.
This album comes across as a bit wishy washy. Compared to their EP (Senor and the Queen) this lacks the punch and fantastic melody of tracks from the EP such as 'Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis'.
The songs are however competently written and radio friendly, yet the lyrics are frankly gibberish and it lacks that filled out sound that extra guitar would give.
This album is a good entrypoint to the genre, but newcomers will quickly be looking to other bands for more inspiration.
59 sound March 27, 2010
curlygirl (england)
this band are playing hard rock calling in june so thought i'd give them a listen. very bruce springsteen. easy listening. not what i was expecing from the name. but good
Brilliant, Haunting, ROCK March 10, 2010
Bluegreendark
After fully listening to this album- bought on the recomdation of a friend- I have to say it's stunning. The tweleve tracks, whilst all somewhat short, have a punchy rock vibe that is almost like pop at times, and not in a bad way. The the entire album is drenched in a ghostly nostalgia for the 50's and 60's, the tracks evocative of and a homage, a tribute to, the lost golden age of a jazz and rock.
Other reviewrs have commentented negativly on the lead singer's voice but to me it's brilliant, conveying a desperate, bitter rage which gives way to enthusiasim, and at times, such as in 'Here's looking at you kid', a fantastic haunting track on love, fame, and desire, a deep sorrow and pathos, skillfully conveyed. The voice is clear and easy to hear, not hoarse as some have said but rather refreshingly alive with raw human emotion.
As you can probably tell from the Album cover there is a prevading sense of what I can only describe as 'cool'. Even the song titles let alone the lyrics are cool, take 'Film Noir' and 'High Lonesome' for example.
However, whilst all the tracks have brilliant openings many of them do sound similar and so I rarely listen to numbers 5-9 which sort of blend into each other. However, this is just my personal opinion and everone will have their favourites. In my mind the Album is worth it just for tracks 1-4, which are explosive and rock-infused, and then the refreshing darkness and sorrow of tracks 10-12, which show the range of the band and Album. I've listened solely to these 7 countless times and will continue to do so.
It has become one of my most-listened to Albums and at the price it's at you can't afford to miss it!
 springsteen-like February 9, 2010
Neil Summers (uk)
If you like the Bruce Springsteen you will love this group! They are a younger version of the Springsteen sound, a little quicker, perhaps not louder but equally sing tunes that get under your skin and you find yourself humming them hours if not days later. Not punk to english ears, as per style description.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 38
|
![Bruce Springsteen & The E St's London Calling: Live in Hyde Park [DVD] [2010] [NTSC]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B003ICWTR4.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)