Brian Fallon - Sleepwalkers (February 9, 2018) Album • Page 28

All it says is “honey, ain’t this life a pretty little dream” for that lyric!

 

@Craig Manning, you told the TRUTH in this review. Last paragraph might be one of your best closers ever.

 

No need, because you're completely right. Has he ever written so pure a love song? Hitting me in all the right places.

 

You're talking about taking "Queen of Lower Chelsea" off American Slang? Wow, we have different tastes.

 

I can't imagine taking anything off of American Slang. Even my least favorite song on that album is a fantastic song. It's such an amazing album.

 

Everyone's focusing on his power vocals, but his best vocal moment on the album is the soft part of "Neptune". Find me another musician who can do that vulnerability.

It's been a long time since I kept any pictures.
And it's been a long night, I don't know where to find her.

 

The only thing I would change about The Queen of Lower Chelsea is to extend that noisy bridge another few bars.

 

I know it is early, but this album is hitting me really hard. I think being roughly the same age as Brian and being in somewhat similar places in life is really making this resonate big time.

I can still listen to The '59 Sound and enjoy the absolute hell out of it, but I definitely am aware of the years and mileage between me and the first time I heard those songs and felt like Brian was shouting my feelings out loud. This album feels like now to me. I don't know if that even makes any sense.

 

The only song I'd take out of Gaslight's first four albums is Too Much Blood. Sink or Swim through Handwritten is an amazing 4 album run. The only thing that compares is Chamberlain Waits through After The Party imo.

 

Ain't no surprise Gaslight and the Menzingers are my two favorite bands? (add Frank Turner in there to conclude my top 3).

I would definitely argue against a couple Gaslight tracks here and there, but Brian Fallon is my favorite songwriter of my lifetime and I'm just so happy he nails exactly how I'm feeling on each and every album. I even had a brutal ending to a relationship take place the night Get Hurt streamed at midnight. So I had that attachment to Get Hurt despite its flaws.

That breakup was a brutal ending years back, but I'm happily with someone else (who equally loves Brian) and Sleepwalkers really paints that picture so, so well.

 

Thanks! Glad you're digging the record.

 

Too Much Blood is a good song. It’s on an album produced by a guy who produced grunge albums in the 90’s. The riff it’s catchy. It’s the third of 3 more mid tempo songs in order on Handwritten, and I still think that’s why people look past this song. It’s not my favourite on the album or anything, but if you grew up in the 90’s like Brian or people like myself, you can appreciate the song. Too each their own though.

 

Love Too Much Blood. Agree about that being an amazing four-album run (five for Fallon if you count Elsie). Agree on the Menzingers as well although (a) I don't love Rented World like I do the rest and (b) a LOT of other artists have amazing runs of four albums. Or more than four.
I still haven't listened to this, waiting for my physical copy which takes longer in regional South Australia. But all the comments forced me to listen to Etta James. I must have played it 20 times already. Amazing.

 

I spun just side two of Handwritten tonight and enjoyed "Too Much Blood" more than I think I ever have before, so you might be on to something with that.

 

Fallon might have more great records in the 2010s than any other artist. American Slang, Elsie, Handwritten, Painkillers, Sleepwalkers. And Get Hurt ain't too shabby, either. Can't think of another artist off the top of my head with that many top-notch LPs since 2010.

 

I’m curious if Get Hurt was made by another band which did not have 59’ Sound, American Slang, and Handwritten in their catalogue if it would have been received differently. Expectations could have definitely hurt it.

Not to say there weren’t some misses and aren’t bad songs, but as a whole I don’t think it’s a bad album. It’s just bad next to the 59’ Sound.

 

Also, dude doesn't get enough credit for how prolific he is. Like clockwork every two years he's back with another great album.

2010 was such a good year to discover his music -- American Slang comes out and then a year later he drops Elsie. And from a songwriting perspective those are his two strongest, most detailed works (IMO). And then Handwritten the next year. Just an insane output. I'm sure it contributed to the burnout he's talked about recently, but as a fan I'm grateful for it.

 

Yeah, 5 is near-impossible to top. Top of mind I can only get to 4:

Justin Vernon's got 2 Bon Iver albums, Volcano Choir, Gayngs, (I could give him a half point for that Staves album)
Kendrick's got Section 80, GKMC, TPAB, and DAMN
Kanye's got MBDTF, Watch The Throne, Yeezus, Pablo
Frank's got Nostalgia, channel ORANGE, Endless, Blonde
Matt Berninger's got 3 National albums and EL VY


These are all like my favorite musicians though.

 

Gotta strike while the iron's hot.

 

This album is really incredible. My favorite thing Brian has done since Elsie

 

Saw him at Rough Trade and got the album. His set was great, he even played Blue Jeans! I like the album a lot after 1 listen.

 

I only listened to it once, but I think I agree

 

Alligator through Trouble Will Find Me?

 

Beggars Banquet through Exile on Main St would have to be the gold standard.
But yeah there are so many artists this aplies to.

 

I would put Kendrick Lamar and Bryce Dessner above him. That's it. Though Vernon may creep up there as well. Either way, five in a decade under three different monikers is insane.