New Jersey The Gaslight Anthem's Sink of Swim was one of the most over-looked album last year on Scene Point Blank. So to make up for our obvious dumbassery I'll review their latest EP from the label that never fails, Sabot Productions.
Every time I listen to The Gaslight Anthem I always feel as though they are just a vehicle for lead singer Brian Fallow before he decides to go solo
which I hope never happens. The Gaslight Anthem are one those bands you never want to see break up. Nevertheless, the five songs on Señor and the Queen have a singer-songwriter feel that bears a slight resemblance to other New Jersey great, Bon Jovi...I'm kidding. If you don't hear a punkified version of the Boss and his E Street Band when listening to The Gaslight Anthem then you aren't listening to Nebraska as much as you say do.
Señor and the Queen is five great catchy songs that could have the most left-footed of dorks want to cut a little rug with their bottle of beer held high. These tracks are fun, yet full of emotion that grabs a hold of your heart. Listening to The Gaslight Anthem is like getting the best mixtape from a long lost friend. You can just hear the passion and the heart that goes into every song, from the dancey "Wherefore art thou, Elvis?" to the country tinged ender of "Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts."
I'm sorry, we never reviewed Sink of Swim and I hope this makes up for it. The Gaslight Anthem is right now one of the best unheard punk rock treasures just waiting to be ignored by the public but loved by the critics. The Gaslight Anthem is punk rock's Guided by Voices. There are a few bands that I've ever been this totally enraptured by and they were named Dinosaur Jr. and The Replacements. Although, The Gaslight Anthem hold court more in the No Idea/Hot Water Music/Lucero/Against Me! camp yet they are still one of the most powerful and uplifting American punk rock bands going. If Señor and the Queen is any indication of what The Gaslight Anthem's new album is going to sound like, it will almost be life affirming.
