The Gaslight Anthem - 'American Slang' (Side One Dummy) Released: 14/06/10

Back in 2008  the release of 'The 59 Sound' catapulted The Gaslight Anthem into the spotlight. At the time, their  'does what it says on the tin' sound was a revelation -  a combination of the light crunch of the then indie scene and a heavy dose of Bruce Springsteen. It was like your dad's music collection had crashed into yours and in sorting them out you realised your tastes were closer than you thought.  

Now its 2010. Things have moved on a little, but not much. And that's precisely the approach that Gaslight have taken to their new album 'American Slang'. A little older and wiser the band has plunged a little deeper into the Bruce Springsteen career.

And while they've done an admirable job at doing this its somehow a less accessible affair. The songs are well sculpted and full of the correct sentiment. But (and given the title this will sound stupid) this release is just a bit too...American.

Evident from the title track right to the end of the album, this release is a flag-waving, constitution obeying, US of A release. And that's precisely why some of us dislike Springsteen. Perhaps its that there's the attempt, on tracks like 'The Queen of Lower Chelsea', to get you to identify with places that most of us have never been and conjure ideals that simply aren't as universal as perhaps the band hoped. It may not be intended to, but to me it has that faux marketing feel - the 'Coke' appeal. At its worst it feels indoctrinating and nasty, almost that 'with us or against us' American feel I'd so hoped we'd thrown out with Dubya Bush. I don't mean to yankee bash, but I just can't identify with it.

As another dislike, the pace also feels as if its dropped. Few tracks, with the exception of the enjoyable 'Boxer' and the more formulaic 'Orphans', have the youthful energetic pace of previous releases. As such it feels like Gaslight Anthem have strayed into that dangerous anthem-seeking territory that can go so disastrously wrong. Luckily the band keep their heads up high on this outing – but future releases may not be so lucky.
Overall this is a solid well crafted release.

Fans will be happy and newcomers probably interested at this glossy piece of Americana. I can enjoy it, but somehow want to keep it at arms reach. Like a voyage into a different country or culture, its great to try but you still want to come back to what you know at the end of things.