Although New Jersey may have a stronger association with racketeering than musical virtuosos, it’s hard to deny The Garden State’s propensity for developing talented artists. With a vibrant music culture reflecting its eclectic population and blue-collar roots, New Jersey has spawned a diverse list of influential recording artists from Frank Sinatra and The Four Seasons to Bon Jovi and The Misfits. Among New Jersey’s latest crop of talent is The Gaslight Anthem, a New Brunswick four-piece that generated considerable buzz following the success of their 2008 release, The ’59 Sound. Gaslight’s much-anticipated follow-up, American Slang, manages to conjure the same thrills as its predecessor, albeit from a slightly different angle.
From a musical perspective, American Slang isn’t particularly groundbreaking; the album embraces minimalist production while harnessing clean, simple, and undistorted sounds. Collectively, the album’s ten songs are inspired as much by traditional rock and roll as they are by blue-eyed soul and jazz. “Stay Lucky” and “Orphans,” which pick up where ’59 left off, are charming ditties freckled with just enough pop appeal to make the cold lyrical themes about loneliness and nostalgia seem palatable. The catchy Motown sing-along, “The Diamond Church Street Choir,” sounds radio-ready, while the title track, arguably the highlight of the album, is a choppy dirge showcasing singer Brian Fallon’s poetic conviction. Typically, with only ten songs on an album, even one dud is a deal breaker; two or more and there better be some instant classics on the disc. Thankfully, the band overcomes these risks on American Slang by delivering 34 minutes of consistent, reliable tracks.
Stylistically, Bruce Springsteen is the obvious influence on Brian Fallon, and one can also detect shades of Mike Ness (Social Distortion) and Ben Nichols (Lucero) – singers whose brutally honest storytelling and gritty vocals bring undeniable life to their lyrics. On American Slang, Fallon expresses his internal sadness most profoundly on “Old Haunts,” chanting, “Shame, shame, shame, shame on you/You kept your mind and heart and youth.”
American Slang’s greatest weakness is the fact that it may take a few listens before the songs really begin to catch. Overall, though, this is a relatively minor quip. By the time you find yourself belting the songs in the shower, you will have wondered why it took you so long to discover these guys in the first place.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of American Slang is the band’s ability to draw from a variety of influences, combining pedestrian sounds and song structures to create something that is simple, yet innovative. The result is a magnetic sound that’s as accessible and appealing to rock purists as it is to casual listeners.
Watch the music video from American Slang’s title track:
