The stirring tunes on New Jersey band The Gaslight Anthem’s 2008 album, The ’59 Sound, are kicking up a lot of excitement for now, and its Springsteen-meets-Against Me! sound is certainly of the moment. It’s also a rich, inviting listen that’ll be worth spinning after the moment’s gone. Granted, with everyone from The Killers to The Hold Steady picking up Boss comparisons in recent years, it’s natural to roll your eyes, but The Gaslight Anthem actually carries that downtrodden-and-determined spirit without disgracing it or overdoing it. Tunes like “Old White Lincoln,” and “Film Noir” temper the band’s punk-rock side with a surprisingly warm influence of soul.
Updated 03/26/2009