Beginning in December of 2008, The Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon posted a series of home/solo/cover recordings to his freshly minted personal MySpace page. "So I'm working on some acoustic songs with zero plans to make an actual record. I'd ideally like to have some songs up here for people to listen to, and maybe I'll make them downloadable, maybe not. We'll see what happens, I plan on recording while I'm home from tour during the winter. "
A cover version of Bruce Springsteen's "Backstreets"arrived first, but was shortly after pulled from the page when another alternate version of the song was featured in the Springsteen homage series, "Hanging Out On E-Street."
A cover version of Bruce Springsteen's "Backstreets"arrived first, but was shortly after pulled from the page when another alternate version of the song was featured in the Springsteen homage series, "Hanging Out On E-Street."
In continued tribute to his influences, Fallon would follow with a superb, spot on rendition of the Tom Waits penned "Cold Cold Ground." Swapping the bohemian sway of accordion prominent throughout Waits' version, Fallon tied his sparse rendition together with a soulful and swirling organ accompaniment.
But it was the third song in the MySpace postings that got people talking. Many Gaslight Anthem fans took "The Blues, Mary" as a preliminary sketch for the bands next album. The mournful tale of a street worn lovesick protagonist, it was however the first of three new original solo compositions Fallon would release.
"Italian Lightning" would showcase the artist's wordplay talents while covering such topics as political corruption, body image issues of the American female, and the ongoing decay of Asbury Park. With no answers of his own, the narrator laments on society's unwillingness or inability to to deal with such issues and as a result the probable scapegoat solution of "Italian Lighting" - the old school adage muttered when an inconvenient building would burn down only to find its owner shortly thereafter collecting insurance money.
Fallon would save his most personal solo song for last. Sung to a "red-shoed" sweetheart, "Tin Pan Alley" is as much a cautionary tale on the pitfalls of fame and fleeting celebrity as it is a reminder note to the artist himself and a need to stayed grounded to one's roots. Of all the solo songs it is the most fleshed out - with a simple drum pattern, backing vocals and melodic electric guitar fills.
In August of 2009, Fallon would close his MySpace page citing "Shut down the solo MySpace. There's too many folk singers these days. I'm here for the rock, folks." A year later, Fallon noted "I doubt I'd do an acoustic album or a "solo" album, but I would like to make a record people can listen to in the night time. I think I'd like to do that with a band name and some friends where we can dress like the Bad Seeds, in suits. Seriously."
While some of the solo songs would be performed a handful of times over a short solo tour, only "Tin Pan Alley" would see a physical release. Gospel Hymns, a split 7" record with Chuck Ragan was released on August 25th, 2009 through Side One Dummy Records. As for the rest of Brian Fallon's 2008/2009 "solo" songs, they remain unreleased.
Enjoy the listen.
Brian Fallon - "Cold Cold Ground (Tom Waits Cover)"
Brian Fallon - "The Blues, Mary"
Note: While "Tin Pan Alley" is included in this download, the Gospel Songs 7" is still available. So do the right thing, support good music, and put down the four bucks for this fine looking vinyl.
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