Meet The Gaslight Anthem...and Their "'59 Sound"

Meet them.

Leave it to Side One Dummy to do it again. That label has a knack for finding bands with a distinct alternative or retro sound and promoting them right into the mix of the mediocre mall-rock, douche-bag bands that dominate modern rock radio in the suburbs of America. They basically like to teach the kids out there what it's like to listen to real bands with something to offer. They did it with Flogging Molly and now they may have done it again with the Gaslight Anthem.

Yes, these Jersey boys cite Springsteen, but they also sound like the Replacements and the song itself - and it pains me to write this - is much akin to Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69". It even sounds like it's from the 80's. And that Adams song was an 80's song that sounded like an 80's anthem-rock song but was about a by-gone period. But it's ok - that wasn't the worst song in the world and neither is this one. In fact, this is one of the best songs of the year.