The Horrible Crowes - “Elsie”
September 6th 2011 10:05
The side project for Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem and their guitar tech Ian Perkins sees Fallon's growth as a songwriter continue to grow with an album that has a late night jazz club blues feel and is best listened to at the sombre midnight hour.
On this record Fallon explores the use of instrumentation a little bit more. The album features a lot of keyboards and piano and uses orchestral arrangements in the slower tracks like "Cherry Blossoms" And accordion in "Mary Ann". Vocally Fallon has really found his voice and style and explores he's limitations. "Go Tell Everybody" has him almost yelling the verses at us before slipping to a softer, cleaner singing voice. "Cherry Blossoms" is a sad forlorn ballad, where Fallon almost whispers the words to create a hauntingly impassioned song that tips it's hat towards Tom Waits in style and voice.
Lyrically you cannot fault him. He has a wonderful way with words and a way of painting the scene without really describing it. Listen to a track like "Ladykiller" which describes being burnt by a lover finding a better man. Or "Bloodloss" with the powerful line in the refrain 'I'll tell you when it's over/I'll tell you when to leave', which he screams towards the end almost replicating the man Fallon is constantly referenced to...Bruce Springsteen.
The album as a whole package as that effect where you will want to listen to this over and over again. You find a favourite track and then in a matter of weeks it will change as another track will peak your interest. On the surface, it sounds so simple but when you listen to it in headphones you can pick up so much more inside the music. And inside Fallon’s words, take “I Witnessed A Crime” which talks about a often volatile relationship which you can cherish as much as you can hate it. It’s a great take on relationships. When it’s followed by the break up/leaving song in “Go Tell Everybody”, you begin to appreciate how the songs are in place for a specific reason.
Yes, this does sound like The Gaslight Anthem. The familiar raspy vocal, the Springsteen style of writing and the flowing guitar lines underneath Fallon's personal tales makes this sound just like Gaslight, so fans will love this record as much as they do "American Slang" and "The 59 Sound". The songs are made to be sung with the same passion and heart as Brian sings them. They take to a place and a scene you wish you were apart of. Quite simply, this is brilliant.
On this record Fallon explores the use of instrumentation a little bit more. The album features a lot of keyboards and piano and uses orchestral arrangements in the slower tracks like "Cherry Blossoms" And accordion in "Mary Ann". Vocally Fallon has really found his voice and style and explores he's limitations. "Go Tell Everybody" has him almost yelling the verses at us before slipping to a softer, cleaner singing voice. "Cherry Blossoms" is a sad forlorn ballad, where Fallon almost whispers the words to create a hauntingly impassioned song that tips it's hat towards Tom Waits in style and voice.
Lyrically you cannot fault him. He has a wonderful way with words and a way of painting the scene without really describing it. Listen to a track like "Ladykiller" which describes being burnt by a lover finding a better man. Or "Bloodloss" with the powerful line in the refrain 'I'll tell you when it's over/I'll tell you when to leave', which he screams towards the end almost replicating the man Fallon is constantly referenced to...Bruce Springsteen.
The album as a whole package as that effect where you will want to listen to this over and over again. You find a favourite track and then in a matter of weeks it will change as another track will peak your interest. On the surface, it sounds so simple but when you listen to it in headphones you can pick up so much more inside the music. And inside Fallon’s words, take “I Witnessed A Crime” which talks about a often volatile relationship which you can cherish as much as you can hate it. It’s a great take on relationships. When it’s followed by the break up/leaving song in “Go Tell Everybody”, you begin to appreciate how the songs are in place for a specific reason.
Yes, this does sound like The Gaslight Anthem. The familiar raspy vocal, the Springsteen style of writing and the flowing guitar lines underneath Fallon's personal tales makes this sound just like Gaslight, so fans will love this record as much as they do "American Slang" and "The 59 Sound". The songs are made to be sung with the same passion and heart as Brian sings them. They take to a place and a scene you wish you were apart of. Quite simply, this is brilliant.
The Horrible Crowes - Elsie
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