For their major label debut, Brian Fallon’s Gaslight Anthem went to Nashville with the intention of stripping down their sound after 2010’s over-fussy American Slang. Where that record saw the New Jersey-ites over-reaching in their Springsteen-isms so that at times they verged on sounding like a tribute band, for Handwritten they have reverted to the drawing-board to an extent.
They immediately seem recharged after a two-year layover, the energetic shuffle of single ‘45’ suggesting a band reconnecting with their love of uncomplicated rock ‘n’ roll. From there, they keep the pedal down: ‘Here Comes My Man’ is a raw-throated power ballad, ‘Keepsake’ a Kings of Leon-esque Southern rocker that trades smooth licks and lyrics like, ‘Mama’s got a good heart’. Granted, on ‘Howl’ and ‘Desire’ it’s obvious Fallon is a long way from disposing of his Springsteen obsession (there are moments when he sounds like a manlier Brandon Flowers channellng Born To Run). But that is eminently forgivable. While it may not be loaded weith examples of of block-busting originality, Handwritten is finger pickin’ good.