The debut Elsie from side project band The Horrible Crowes is a strong beginning and confident stride for the duo of Brian Fallon and friend Ian Perkins. Indie label Side One Dummy immediately backed The Gaslight Anthem‘s Fallon’s creative roadtrip; and what a masterpiece he’s stitched up and presented.
Brian Fallon is a hardened old soul with a story and the mean accompanying songwriting chops to drive his point home. On I Witnessed a Crime he croons “And this heart I had, you never sympathize,” finishing up by telling himself, “It’s just a little bit of blood in your eyes, so boy stop all your crying.”
Brian pushes his limits going harder on tracks like Mary Ann and Go Tell Everybody than he has with Gaslight. And the gentle, honest songs remind us of his last debut, on 2007’s Sink or Swim. Any song of his that reminds me of Red At Night is a winner.
Nevertheless, you ask for a lover or a fighter and Brian will give you both. He’s working class and he’s got some troubles and repentance. He’ll put you in an old car and take you for a spin, even if he was, “some fella that just said the right thing.” But no matter what, in a songwriting world of ambiguity, Brian is your companion who will tell it to you straight.
Mimi
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