So, Brian Fallon’s new solo record Painkillers is confusing. Because let’s just get it out of the way: Painkillers sounds like the last few The Gaslight Anthem records. And that’s where the confusion sets in.
Fallon and The Gaslight Anthem took a break from one another on the terms that the band was straying away from its punk roots and going in more of a “Springsteen-esque” sound that was bumming them out.
They felt like they needed to step away from the band for a while and rediscover who they were, and try to harness the fire that dropped classics like The 59’ Sound, and American Slang.
But, on Painkillers, the Springsteen is right there, mixed along with some Ryan Adams and off-putting attempts at alt- country. Brian Fallon is a fantastic wordsmith and an iconic front man of one of the best punk bands in the last decade, but country singer, he is not.
Another odd layer to Painkillers is the inclusion of Butch Walker, or better known as the guy who wrote and produced a bunch of pop punk records in the early 00’s. So, we’ve got Ryan Adams, pop punk guy, and an adverse lead singer who wanted not to write the record he just released with his full-time band?
What in the actual fuck is going on here, Brian?
Let’s be clear about something: I love The Gaslight Anthem. I own most of their catalog on vinyl. I know their stuff. But, Painkillers seems disingenuous. Maybe he had to get this record out of his system to move on in some way. Better put: Painkillers feels like the people you bang in between serious relationship, or “just getting the poison out” as one of my sketchy friends once told me.
The songs aren’t bad, they sound like meat and potatoes Brian Fallon songs. The gravely growl is still there; he still looks cool, and he’s even got a cover that rings back to the aforementioned 59’ sound. But, what Painkillers feels like it lacks the most, is heart. It just feels like…music. Nothing great, nor brilliant as we’re used to with Fallon. It’s just a collection of songs I could ignore while buying a new pair of Vans.
Had I not been a Brian Fallon fan, I’d of skipped right past this in a record store. It lacks impression. He may sell it to us that this record means something to him, but as a fan and a listener, it doesn’t feel that way. It seems cheap.
By all means, if you need the Brian Fallon fix, grab Painkillers. But, if you’re like me, you’ll hear it, and count the days till he gets back in the ring with The Gaslight Anthem once again. Brian Fallon is not a country singer; he’s a troubadour of New Jersey, who needs to lay off the Bob Dylan and get right with some Misfits and Ramones already.
Brian, we love you. But, we’re waiting for you to get your groove back.
Key takeaways from Painkillers:
‘Rosemary’ is straight up Springsteen, while ‘Steve McQueen’ drifts back toward the familiar Gaslight Anthem territory. ‘Long Drives’ is solid, despite the overbearing Ryan Adams thing going on.
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