Gaslight’s New Slang: Perfect Cruising Music

By Travis Dvoracek
Contributing Writer

A friend of mine exposed me to this very interesting band not long ago. Now, I’m a fan of punk. It’s one of my favorite genres of music, alongside Metal, but this was something different from what I was used to. After hearing it in his car a couple of times I gave in and got The Gaslight Anthem’s 2008 release, “The ‘59 Sound.”

I’d been looking for something different to listen for a while and “The ‘59 Sound” definitely delivered something I didn’t have. They had a retro sound that really stood out from what I have been used to, which is the main reason I liked it. The whole album has this ’50s sound to it with a punk attitude that mixes together perfectly, like what Marty McFly would have done to the music if he’d stayed in the past. It’s perfect to just go driving around town to with some friends.

After playing the album to death and then some, I looked the band up to find some more of their music and found out that they had a new album, “American Slang,” coming out on June 15. My buddy told me they were working on something but I wasn’t expecting something this soon, and I got really excited. So I scoured the internet to see if I could get a preview and to my luck I found it streaming on a couple of sites.

For the most part they don’t have the same ’59 sound that they had in their last album, but still have the same indie punk feel. It’s probably a good thing; it means that they decided not to drive it into the ground by overdoing it. They just took the best parts of what they had, made it more their own, and improved on it.

A lot of their songs are about life in general, keeping in the now, not worrying about the past but still remembering it. Being with friends and having the time of your life. Having fun. They are generally happy, meant to make you feel good, not punk-rebellious.

The songs have a cheering upbeat, a calming sound. Just sitting there and listening to some of them, like “Bring It On,” can zen you out. There are some few songs, like “The Queen of Lower Chelsea,” that might make you want to get up and dance. But this album makes you happy rather than dancy.

If you’re a punk or indie fan, these guys are something to check out, or if you’re not sure, at least a quick try on their myspace. I haven’t tried their earlier stuff yet but I’m looking into it. But with “American Slang” out, I’m going to be held up for awhile.

If you like “American Slang” and you don’t have “The ’59 Sound,” I suggest getting it soon. It’s an amazing album. If you have one, buy the other. Either way works.

Gaslight’s new album, “American Slang,” came out on June 15 through Side One Dummy Records.

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If You Go

What: The Gaslight Anthem, Tim Barry, Chamberlain
Where: First Avenue, Minneapolis
When: Mon, July 26, 7:30pm
Info: 612.338.8388, 612.332.1775