The Gaslight Anthem — The '59 Sound

This New Brunswick, N.J. band made their full-length debut last year with Sink Or Swim, which helped get them signed to SideOneDummy for this LP produced by former Flogging Molly guitarist Ted Hutt (The Bouncing Souls). While there are punk and pop elements in the quartet's sound, they also owe a big debt to New Jersey's favourite musical son, Bruce Springsteen. (If you thought I was going to say Jon Bon Jovi or Frank Sinatra, you can stop reading now.) This is especially the case on opener "Great Expectations," "Miles Davis & The Cool" and "Meet Me By The River's Edge." That may make the subtle Joy Division undercurrent present on "Old White Lincoln" somewhat surprising, but it works. Things slow down a bit, to less effect, on "Here's Looking At You Kid" and the mildly soulful "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues." Despite the album title (and the excellent single of the same name), The '59 Sound seems pretty timeless.