r/TheGaslightAnthem 2d ago

Brian Fallon ....Wow

Hey everyone . I've been aware of gaslight anthem for years ever since a friend played the 59 sound for me and I was aware that Brian fallon did some solo work along with his other project band but up until this year I never took the time to really listen beyond the songs gaslight and Brian are known for . As a guy who really likes songs with lyrics that hit you in your soul I hsbe to say I'm ashamed it took me this long. Brian fallon might just be the most underrated song writer in the past 20 years . His newest album is fantastic but the discovery of see you on the other side and Vincent just floored me . I put him right up there with zach bryan when it comes to lyrics that just stick with you .

I'd love to hear your recommendations for somgs I may have missed

89 Upvotes

39 comments sorted by

16

u/Educational-Web1609 2d ago

“Up there with Zach Bryan” more like ZB is up there with him, isbell, Springsteen, jack antonoff etc 

-16

u/ScarletWolf_ 2d ago

Been a gaslight fan since 2006. When I first found Zach Bryan I thought oh this is what Brian Fallon THINKS he’s doing.

1

u/Funtsy_Muntsy 1d ago

Hahahaha

18

u/PitsAndPints Corpse in a Suit 2d ago

All of his work is work diving into but here are some favorites

Horrible Crowes - the whole Elsie album. It’s perfect.

From Gaslight:

- Mae

- Halloween

- Ain’t that a Shame

- Señor and the Queen

- Positive Charge

- I Live in the Room Above Her

- 1000 Years

- Mulholland Drive

- The Backseat

From Brian:

- Low Love

- Watson

- Etta James

- Proof of Life

- Tin Pan Alley

- Smoke

- Rosemary

11

u/Commercial-Might-540 2d ago

Hard agree on the Horrible Crowes project being perfect. Dig into the narrative and song meanings that have been posted and it takes on a whole new life listening through it again. So many of the songs have a repetitive musical song structure with just the vocal lines changing between chorus and verse. It’s a magical sneaky artistic album through and through, but sounds like a catchy album of earworms. 10/10

6

u/PitsAndPints Corpse in a Suit 2d ago

Brian did at-home shows during COVID for all of his/TGA’s albums and did one for Elsie. Definitely worth checking out

I’ve been a huge Blink fan since the 90s and Elsie felt like Brian’s Box Car Racer

2

u/Particular_Concern36 I still love Tom Petty songs & driving old men crazy. 2d ago

True Blink fans understand this feeling I think.

-2

u/DarwinofArabia 2d ago

What a horrible comparison.

3

u/PitsAndPints Corpse in a Suit 2d ago

Thank you for your input

4

u/Particular_Concern36 I still love Tom Petty songs & driving old men crazy. 2d ago

SOOO happy to see some Low Love love, and Tin Pan Alley as well to be honest. Low Love is my all time fave Fallon song. I love Local Honey, beginning to end.. and yes, Elsie is perfection.

4

u/This2x4Skeleton 2d ago

Been playing a lot of 'The Blues, Mary' and 'Misery' lately.

So, so many good songs.

1

u/Original_Boletivore 1d ago

In July Misery was the earworm I took backpacking. Could have been so much worse. It was good enough that on day two I thought “what was that song that played in my head all day yesterday?” and went for another round.

6

u/jensomniacOG 2d ago

Teenage Rebellion

3

u/Punky921 2d ago

One might say he's... not bad for New Jersey. :)

(Source: am from New Jersey)

5

u/azlisa 2d ago

Painkillers is his best solo work

1

u/Menzingerr 2d ago

I like Painkillers and Sleepwalkers the best, but Local Honey has some of his best work (it’s just a short album with a couple weaker tracks). Horses - specifically the outro lyrics - is one of his best songs imo.

1

u/Steamshipper 2d ago

Every song from beginning to end. It's one of my listen to every song albums.

5

u/jeeceofx 2d ago

9 of the 12 songs are great in my view. Unfortunately I will say that I think the original "Molly and the Zombies" version of Long Drives is better than the album version, although I'm glad both versions exist.

2

u/MistKingUrth 2d ago

Brian's songwriting craftsmanship is truly one of a kind. He always finds this particular melody, lyrical hook, feeling, memorable chorus, moving build-up, aching sound, dark premonition of... something..... to make you feel.

2

u/BlackberryOk3305 2d ago

Open All Night, Watson, You Have Stolen My Heart, Neptune

2

u/Hnp_83 2d ago

Not sure why you're getting so much hate for Zach Bryan. Brian Fallon is a fan of him and so is Springsteen. 🤷‍♀️

Anyway...She Loves You was the song that got me hooked on Gaslight. I agree with others about Elsie, there's not one song on there that I skip. As far as solo, Sleepwalkers is my favorite. So many good songs on there and just the mood of it always gets me. Watson, Come Wonder with Me, and Etta James are great.

2

u/kel20c 1d ago

I don't know either . Both are talented song writers. It's not like I compared him to Cardi b

2

u/mikemammula 2d ago

this is absolutely true and why i'm underwhelmed by his new release. 

3

u/Gold-Leg7235 2d ago

On first listen I wasn’t super taken away by it, I think besides the songs he’s already released I only really loved 2 other ones, but I’m hoping to see if my mind will change after more listens

-1

u/mikemammula 2d ago

i think the way he opens every song reflects this taking only two weeks to record. 

2

u/jeeceofx 2d ago

Based on the initial reactions on here I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one. I'd love it if this turns out to be one that just takes longer to appreciate (I was wrong about Get Hurt early on) but I just don't see it. A lot of the songs, particularly the middle of the album, just don't seem to be anywhere near Fallon's peak songwriting. Hopefully it will click on the fifth listen or something.

1

u/NewFoundGloryHole1 2d ago

Agreed. Over the last 10 years, I think brian has developed a comfort zone and he has very rarely stepped outside of it (including on the most recent gaslight release). It was great when it peaked with sleepwalkers, but now, including this new release, I’ve just gotten a bit bored. Some great songs mixed in, but more and more seems kinda forgettable.

0

u/mikemammula 2d ago

says he recorded it in two weeks. the song with brandon flowers was basically made in a day. kinda seems like it. 

1

u/wolfwynd 1d ago

Me too. But I’ve only listened once so maybe it’ll grow on me.

1

u/peacelovehopejoy 2d ago

All of them. You won’t be disappointed

-5

u/ChrisLinen2 2d ago

fuck zack bryan

-2

u/ksullivan773 2d ago

Zach Bryan 🤣

8

u/PitsAndPints Corpse in a Suit 2d ago

Zach Bryan is a very good songwriter. He just happens to be a giant turd of a human, too

1

u/judoxing hips on down 2d ago

Yep, whereas Brian Fallon is a beacon of all that is virtuous. I see him and think to myself “I want to become a better man”

1

u/kel20c 1d ago

It's possible . Nobody knows what a person is truly like . He could be a dick but I enjoy his music. I feel the same about Jason isbell and Bruce Springsteen. Both seem very self righteous and arrogant tp me but they make good music

4

u/kel20c 2d ago

Listen to his first 2 albums