Get Hurt - The Gaslight Anthem (2014)

An earlier Gaslight Anthem record, The 59 Sound (edit: o_O), was a most-listened-to record for me on Spotify for multiple years running. It’s rare that I love any record as much as I love that one, so I can’t be too surprised that I don’t love their others as much.

The same elements are here: heartfelt songwriting, earnest singing, high energy arrangements. It’s a solid set of songs. The sound is more muscular and fleshed out than earlier records, not always to their advantage. At times it sounds like they think they’re covering Black Sabbath or Rick Springfield, which isn’t really their strength.

Still, it’s an evolution for the band, with more complex arrangements to go along with their always emotionally complex lyrics.

Tracks I Liked

Stray Paper - a pretty classic GA tune

Red Violins - fun and poppy in a 90s alt-rock sort of way