Customer Reviews

Sink or Swim

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I saw the Gaslight Anthem with Against Me! and Two Gallants in Houston in 2007, and these guys are great both live and on disc. The diversity of the sounds and the richness of the melodies work together in a way that is unrivaled in modern music, as far as I know.

The '59 Sound is a good cd, but it's nothing compared to Sink or Swim. When I bought this at that show, I couldn't believe it was their first album. I'd name my favorite songs, but they're all so amazing.

It really doesn't matter what genre of music you prefer. Blues, folk, rock, punk, whatever. They're all here, and they're all fantastic. It's great driving music, too.

I was first introduced to Gaslight off their 2nd CD, The '59 Sound. I then bought their 1st CD, Sink or Swim. This is a delightful CD, displaying the talent of 4 seasoned musicians. It has a great sound...some of which may be familiar. Borrowing from their idols, then modifying them to make the tunes uniquely their own, this CD produces many gratifying and pleasing songs that you can't stop humming. Buy this CD and you won't regret it. You'll be hearing about The Gaslight Anthem for years to come!

The sound here is raw and the mix is off at times, but it's still Gaslight Anthem. In other words, it's awesome! The songs rock a little harder and crunch a little more than they did on The '59 Sound. The lyrics are very similar: Bruce Springsteen with a punk angle. I loved it.

This is a good album and the band is great. However, be careful upon opening because once you peel the tape off the top of the CD case -it's like a Venus Flytrap and you can't put anything next to the CD because its so sticky. I have about 1000 CD's -and this is probably the worst packaging I have ever seen. I contacted the record company and was offered a new jewel case which I didn't even ask for. Although I was promised one twice, so much for honoring your word. Buy the CD-and buy a separate case for it because you will need it.

This was my first exposure to the band. I gotta say it isn't really my favorite, but i can respect their sound. The vocals are really rough, but the songwriting is good. The sound is not too hardcore, and it reminds me of late 80s/early 90s punk music. I liked that not all of the songs sound the same, since that is usually a problem in this genre. There is obvious musical talent in the band, but the vocals turned me off.

Not that polished, but sets the stage for the fantastic '59 Sound and American Slang.

The Gaslight Anthem burst out of the New Jersey punk scene, wearing their hearts and love of Bruce Springsteen on their sleeves. On this, their debut LP, they rip through 12 songs about music, growing up, falling in love, and heartbreak, the latter two often involving girls all named "Maria." There's a fire in these songs, and emotion pours from singer/guitarist Brian Fallon's voice. There are musical allusions littered throughout the record, from punk heroes (see "I'da Called You Woody, Joe"), to soul, to the aforementioned Springsteen. This is one of the essential records of 2007. You owe it to yourself to add this to your collection.

I was blown away by this vinyl. It came in beautiful, high-quality packaging and sounds great. Also, rather than the standard black vinyl, it's completely clear. It's well worth the mere $16.

The Gaslight Anthem have kind of exploded over the last five years or so. Their songs are great and in many ways they remind us of why New Jersey is such a key spot on the musical map of the United States. You're going to hear Bruce Springsteen, but you are also going to hear lyrics reminiscent of the Bouncing Souls and those guys from Florida Hot Water Music. They are definitely a bit lighter than either BS or HWM but this is still a great record.

The album is a bit rougher than their later releases. Both the emotion, the music and even the production reflects Fallon's experiences.

If you have liked any of the later albums, this is an record that is well worth your time and money.

From This Charming Man to the Horrible Crowes, Brian Fallon has created very little music that is anything less than exceptional. In Sink or Swim, Fallon and TGA have created an album that is both great in terms of sound and lyrics. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about any of the songs in this lineup. Buy it now and support real, heartfelt, and all-around awesome music!!