The Gaslight Anthem Band • Page 162

I can safely say that "Have Mercy" is my top song, and "Sweet Morphine" is only a hair's breadth behind it. "Mama's Boys" I do love as well but I don't think its quite on the level of the other two.

I took this to mean the other 3 guys in the band, and then Ian, and then the producer, then maybe their manager and other 'Label' people maybe, and then wives/SOs/GFs who may have been in the studio with them. There's no way to know exactly without having been there. Even the glimpse he gave us with the story is more insight into the situation then we would normally have.

It sounds to me like literally everyone involved with Gaslight the band wanted a certain thing out of Brian and his songwriting that was at odds with what he personally wanted. I would KILL to have been a fly on the wall to see those recording sessions with Mike Crossey.

 

Hearing the lead songwriter of a band say how his favorite song from an album’s sessions didn’t make the record, because of what people not in the band thought, is so bizarre and heartbreaking.

 

Does anyone not have it on the copy of the album they listen to all the time though?

 

Brendan was originally going to do this record as well. I remember listening to an interview where Brian mentioned it. Then it was officially announced a while later Mike Crossey was doing the record and listed his past albums. I’m not sure if that was an availability decision. I do remember Brian taking about this album being their “weird” or “Pearl Jam’s No Code”.

Brian does love to talk about the sound of his albums. Painkillers was how America would sound. Sleepwalkers was supposed to have motownish funky undertone (but later he said he had been listening to a lot of Clash records). Elsie was nighttime music. Handwritten a big arena rock sound. American Slang was a clash ish vibe.

Love them all and they all feel very related, witha slightly different approach.

 

You’re absolutely right. The deluxe was very to purchase.

 

And on all streaming services now, where I’d venture most people listen to the album.

 

I did find a few of the songs just jump in immediately and Indo think the sequencing could have been slightly different, but in the digital age it’s at your discretion.

Also, is still listen to the deluxe album as they have it because that’s what I got used to.

 

I do have to say though, it does kind of surprise me that the lead singer and songwriter's favorite song - that he really wanted on the album - didn't make the cut.

 

They have made the weirdest song choice calls their whole career, I’d be surprised if they didn’t second guess an album!

 

How so?

In a weird way, having Blue Dahlia, Have Mercy, She Loves and Blue Jeans as B-sides or Ep tracks has only added to the legend status of the songs. Thankfully it’s easy very easy to find them as you said, and the band has never really been shy to play them live. Also, there is not a song I’d remove from the albums, I’d only just want to add these greats tracks (and Halloween, Mamas Boys and so on).

The bands also always picked great singles (including the Crowe’s snd Brian’s solo) and appropriate songs to cover (often from their influences and why not, like Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream it worked out fantastic).

Even the idea that on Sink or Swim this band through in two more acoustic based tracks was brilliant, because both are hits with fans.

All the producer the band have worked with have been part of making great songs.

I don’t know if it was good luck or decision making, but I’d say this band really didn’t have any missteps (I my opinion). I know personally I’m sure there are things like Have Mercy that Brian would changed. I’d imagine the band never set out to write a Get Hurt break up album, which was definitely different, but that’s life and there has always been a sincerity.

The use of Maria was a little weird, but very charming.

You probably have more insider info then me though. I’d be curious to hear what you have to say.

 

Have Mercy STILL not being on Spotify is a crime.

 

Have Mercy as opener straight going to Stay Vicious works incredible for me

 

The label thought "Have Mercy" wasn't done but was just like "Sure, go ahead!" with "Helter Skeleton"? WUT?

I guess we finally have our answer as to why this album is so weird.

 

Have Mercy and Underneath The Ground are both a little Horrible Crowe’s (or something different). We just happen to love theM. Labels are usually about brands, not bands.

 

It's fine if you think they've made the right choices but for me, consistently not putting some of the best songs they've written on each album they've released adds up to "weird decisions". Whether or not it was entirely their fault is up for debate it sounds like, but still weird nonetheless

 

Helter Skeleton is a grade A banger.

 

I honestly kinda get the “not finished” thing. Not because it’s bad. It’s a top favorite of mine. But every time I listen to it I go to a live version instead because there is so much umph to the live version.

 

I’d say it’s a Grade C banger at best.

 

Have Mercy
Dark Places
Rollin’ & Tumblin’
1000 Years
Helter Skeleton

Those would be my top 5 on the album, with Get Hurt right there as well.

I’ll always say this: many bands would kill to have this be their worst album.

 

Dark Places
Have Mercy
Get Hurt
Rollin' and Tumblin'
Stay Vicious

The only omission worse than Have Mercy is Blue Dahlia.

 

I’ll stan for Mama’s Boys until I fucking die. And it really is a shame that other party said Have Mercy wasn’t fleshed out enough. It’s bare-bones nature is what makes it beautiful and haunting. Easily the best track of that batch.

Also, yes @Ben Lee Helter Skeleton is a grade A banger.

 

None of these songs were just abandoned as Demos and all were put on deluxe versions.

The also agree, love the haunting vibe on Have Mercy. Really grabs you after Halloween.

 

I can *almost* understand if you just don't think "Have Mercy" is that good of a song, because opinions, but to say it's not finished...? The song is absolutely perfect as it is. It is a masterpiece. I wish Brian had put his foot down so to speak and got it onto the album, but I am glad he stuck to his guns and didn't tinker with the song any further.

I think Get Hurt is an incredible album because there is so much amazing music on it, yet it never fully 'works' for me as an album and I have been consistently tinkering with the tracklist and song-flow since it was released four years ago. To hear that story from Brian makes me feel a little better about having struggled for a few years now to find a version of the album that fits "Mama's Boys" on the tracklist, not only because I like the song a lot, but because to me it just fits so well with the overall dark themes of the album in a way that a song like "1,000 Years" - even though it is an absolute banger - just does not. Or does not as well.

Even if their albums are filled with other fantastic songs - which I think they are - consistently leaving some your absolute best, most well-written songs off of your albums definitely constitutes a weird decision, especially as a trend and when the songs are in no way stylistic outliers.

Take something like "Blue Dahlia" for example: I would posit that no song 'on that album' better encapsulates the sound of a Brendan O'Brien produced Gaslight Anthem album.

 

Lots of bands leave off amazing songs. I don’t get it either. If the vibe is different though, like Mama’s Boys and Sweet Morphine, I get it. Just different instrumentation.

Thrice left off Flags of Dawn. That song is awesome. In a way though, like Blue Dahlia, it feels like the lead single on an EP.

I also don’t get the fully flushed out comment either on Have Mercy. Great song.yeah it’s a little different, but it fits in with the other songs.

 

I don’t think “Blue Dahlia” fits anywhere else on that album. I like it as a bonus track or epilogue.