Fans tend to tout
Brian Fallon as punk rock’s very own
Bruce Springsteen, with songs that split the difference between
the Boss’ heartland rock and New Jersey’s 21st century punk revival. The
Springsteen similarities don’t stop with
Elsie, the first release from
Fallon’s
Horrible Crowes side project, but they’re less evident; if anything, these songs sound less like the product of Born to Run-era E Street Band and more like
Springsteen’s solo ruminations circa
Nebraska. The music is smoky and slow-moving, with sparse, acoustic-heavy arrangements replacing
the Gaslight Anthem’s tattooed electric stomp. Of course, everything is filtered through
Fallon’s punk rock instincts, meaning many of the tunes begin as ballads before building themselves into something louder, with
Fallon switching from a rumbling baritone to a gritty semi-scream.
The Gaslight Anthem’s guitar tech,
Ian Perkins, handles bass and slide guitar, and a handful of guest musicians add mood elements like trumpet, timpani, and accordion. Still,
Elsie functions best as a display of
Fallon’s underused bottom register and acoustic songwriting skills, proving that slowing things down once in a while can still be a punk rock move. ~ Andrew Leahey