The Horrible Crowes - Elsie
- Aug 29, 2011
Sometimes a side project can be a waste of time, a spot of self-indulgence or an ill-judged experiment. Fortunately, the latest effort from The Gaslight Anthem lead singer Brian Fallon is none of the above. Whilst The Horrible Crowes are unlikely to eclipse their predecessors, there is a sufficient strength of variety on this record to suggest the shape of things to come for fans of the New Jersey quartet.
With the slinky vibes of 'I Witnessed A Crime' and the joyous choruses of 'Behold The Hurricane' and 'Go Tell Everybody', you could be forgiven for thinking that this was the fourth Gaslight Anthem album. Indeed, two members of Fallon's other band crop up providing guitar tracks and drums on a few tracks. However, the driving force behind this record was the band's erstwhile guitar tech Ian Perkins, who wrote much of the music, which helps Fallon explore his more theatrical ideas. Take the bolshy stomp of 'Mary Ann' for example; bolstered by brass and boasting some of the most bombastic vocals that Fallon has recorded to date.
Another key difference to note is the number of religious references thrown in to the mix, from the opening track 'Last Rites' all the way through to the (admittedly cringe-worthy) closer 'I Believe Jesus Brought Us Together', which draws the record to a rather drab conclusion. Anyone worrying that Fallon has been listening to too much Creed will be glad to hear that this aspect of the album isn't allowed to dominate, but is handled with the kind of subtlety you might expect from Manchester Orchestra.
Cited influences behind this record include PJ Harvey and the title is taken from a traditional Scottish poem, so it would be logical to expect a more British feel to this record, especially given that Perkins is an Englishman and the title is taken from the Mighty Boosh character who lives inside the Hitcher's hat. However, the distinctive twang to Fallon's vocals ensures that there is still a strongly American flavour to the album.
While the Gaslight Anthem made a name for themselves as nostalgia punks, worthy of inheriting Bruce Springsteen's crown, The Horrible Crowes take things one step further, with the punk guitars stepping aside, and the result is a truly atmospheric collection of tracks, including the brooding bass-driven 'Sugar' and the chilled-out waltz of 'Cherry Blossoms'. Fallon has already admitted that his song writing partnership with Perkins may continue into the fourth Gaslight Anthem album and if 'Elsie' is anything to go by, then the band will be all the stronger as a result with several more strings to their bow.
7/10
Chris Jefferies
