The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

[jump]

My girlfriend thinks Gaslight sound like Nickleback but she also thinks The Cure are an emo band.

[Gucci Piggy]

My brother thinks Pearl Jam are like Nickelback.

[Chiefski]

Going by the deluxe version, wouldnt be suprised if they throw this out at reading

Edited July 23, 2012 by Chiefski

[Vieuphoria]

The vocals are weak (and in parts kind of laughable) on that cover. The rest is ok though.

[mrtourette]

To the untrained ear I can see how there might not be much difference between Nickelback and Gaslight. Obviously lyrically and motivationally they're different but change the lyrics, taken away the tattoos and soften the attitude and they'd be sailing dangerously close to bland MOR crap.

Altough I don't doubt they're more interesting, genuine and ultimately better people than the likes of Nickelback I've just always found their music lacking something interesting, and this is the same.

It's inoffensive stuff and could be OK background music on a good day, but they'll likely be clashing with Tribes and The Joy Formidable so I won't catch them anyway.

Edited July 24, 2012 by mrtourette

[VCK]

Having listened to the album in full (on Spotify) it's good but so far I don't rate it higher than The '59 Sound or American Slang, the latter being my favourite Gaslight album. I still like it and find it better than most Alternative music out there but a fair few tracks kinda feel like "Gaslight by numbers" whereas American Slang was a bit more diverse. They seem to have a thing for forming a progression out of the chords Eb, Bb, G and F in a lot of their songs.

45, Biloxi Parish, Blue Dahlia and Howl are my favourites so far, but 45 and Blue Dahlia aside there's no breathtaking songs like The '59 Sound, Film Noir, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, The Backseat, American Slang, The Diamond Street Church Choir or Old Haunts.

Still, I'll give it more of a chance because they're a very talented band and some of the songs feel like they'll grow on me but my first impression of the album is that the songs aren't as strong as their previous two albums.

Edited July 24, 2012 by VCK

[jonnyisRFC]

I haven't stopped listening to this record, i think it's amazing but yeah nothing will ever beat The '59 Sound for me. Handwritten pisses all over American Slang IMO but i still love it, and yeah i think it's pretty hard to compare Handwritten to Sink Or Swim as it's like two different bands

[harderfaster]

I think it's a massive grower - didn't think much at all on first couple of listens but loving it now. Favourites change each time - Handwritten at the moment!

[Mouseboy11]

I'll have to listen to this, not sure whether to go see these or Tribes. Heard bad things about these on a big stage.

[VCK]

I think it's a massive grower - didn't think much at all on first couple of listens but loving it now. Favourites change each time - Handwritten at the moment!

[AcademicPistol]

I'll have to listen to this, not sure whether to go see these or Tribes. Heard bad things about these on a big stage.

[Mouseboy11]

Go with your heart man or just decide who's music you prefer out of the 2?

[AcademicPistol]

Yes good point and don't quote me on this but I think it would be cheaper to see Tribes at their own gig than it would Gaslight. Hopefully Gaslight have improved live

Edited July 26, 2012 by AcademicPistol

[Chiefski]

Definately a 'grower' album, loving it now. Looks like they are getting a high position on the album chart as well (currently at no.2, behind Plan dont half stick out like a sore thumb to the albums around them saying that, fair play to them though.

Would definately see them over Tribes at the moment, especially as it looks like all their tour gigs sold out quickly too

[VCK]

Number 2 in the album charts? Excellent, they really deserve their success!

Maybe they should come back to Reading and Leeds next year, as subheadliners or 3rd on Main. If they release an album that reaches second place in the charts then surely they're big enough for that slow now?

[mrtourette]

Why surely?

[jump]

Number 2 in the album charts? Excellent, they really deserve their success!

Maybe they should come back to Reading and Leeds next year, as subheadliners or 3rd on Main. If they release an album that reaches second place in the charts then surely they're big enough for that slow now?

[Yellow_Fellow]

Album sales are what a lot of live promotors will use to gauge how big an act is - Periphery have made this very clear to their fans.

[Chiefski]

Position wise, they could probably easily be a position or two above where they are at the moment going by the potential success of the album and the speed their current tour sold, maybe even a future NME tent headline spot

[dan1892]

Do they ever get much airplay?

I think I heard the '59 Sound played by Fearne Cotton once. And Chris Evans play The Diamond Street Church Chior a few times.

[Mouseboy11]

Radio 1 have been playing 45 recently.

[mrtourette]

Album sales are what a lot of live promotors will use to gauge how big an act is - Periphery have made this very clear to their fans.

[Chiefski]

Album sales and chart positions are two different things though.

Also I'm pretty sure the album charts are done on a Sunday, they may be #2 in the midweek charts but once all the kids and teens have gone out on a Saturday and bought their more mainstream stuff it could look very different when officially announced. This is a common situation with less mainstream indie/alt/rock bands, their dedicated fans buy the albums straight away and give a skewed midweek ranking and then Saturday sales push more chart-friendly acts up the sales list.

[jump]

Do they ever get much airplay?

I think I heard the '59 Sound played by Fearne Cotton once. And Chris Evans play The Diamond Street Church Chior a few times.

[Chiefski]

Stuck in at no.2 in the end, well done to them, could give them a nice push over here.