★★★½
For over a decade Brian Fallon has served as the frontman for The Gaslight Anthem, a band that was heralded both as a spiritual successor to Bruce Springsteen and the next truly great punk rock outfit.
Painkillers is his debut following the band’s hiatus, and he seems more interested in following the Springsteen path than any other option.
Indeed, it’s hard to avoid comparisons with The Boss. It’s not only in Fallon’s voice and the fact that he was born and raised in New Jersey – it’s in songs like album opener ‘A Wonderful Life’, a track that wouldn’t be out of place on a new Springsteen album.
That said, any song on Painkillers could also find a home on a Gaslight Anthem album, with songs like ‘Steve McQueen’ particularly impressing..
Fallon’s acoustic guitar is the fulcrum of Painkillers, switching between tender ballads (‘Honey Magnolia’) and folk-rock numbers (‘Red Lights’). With Butch Walker behind the desk, the record is predictably well-produced.
Despite its connection to artists of the past, Painkillers is a refreshing release; a tender, ecstatic foot forward from an artist with one of the most sterling track records around.
