‘Sink or Swim’ is the 2007 debut album from New Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem.
During a recent roundtable podcast discussion, a friend laid down the argument for this album as his choice for the best album of the past ten years. A bold statement that I argued right off the bat, the only flaw to my rebuff was that I had never actually heard the album… I just like a good argument.
Intrigued as I was, I decided to give it a listen (in secret).
SIDE A
Right of the block the pace is set for the rest of the album. Good catchy rifts, with driving guitars, tight drums
It doesn’t take long to win me over. The second track I coul’da been a contender, is an absolute gem. Atmospheric with its rocking chorus and a perfect display of ‘smokey’ vocals, reminiscent of my favourite band Lucero, from frontman Brian Fallon.
The album does not let up here, as the album carries through the energy that it has created. Wooderson is another fast tempo song that builds until its climatic harmonic release in the outro. This emotion building song structure is mirrored in the foot stomping ode to mythical love-interest Mary in 1930.
By the sixth track, The Navesink Banks, we get out first breather. It is the first of two acoustic tracks, both of which emphasise the true warmth of the smokey country-music vocal stylings of the band. Its a much needed breather as a lot of energy is expended in the first half of the album. In honesty, the song pales in comparison to the closing song of the album Red at Night.
SIDE B
It’s hard to say that the second half of the album doesn’t match up to the first as it contains two of my favourite tracks off the album. But this surely is a credit to the consistency of the album, that one song doesn’t meet their own impeccable standards set in the first 6 songs. The tribute to The Clash’s songwriter, Joe Strummer, I woul’da called you Woody, Joe and Drive are excellent tracks in their own right.
As mentioned previously, the album finishes with a cracking acoustic track. As folk-country as they come, it is a great ‘come down’ track after the intensity of the album.
Summary
A lot is written about the influences of this record. The not-so well hidden homage to the brilliant Joe Strummer, and the smokey-rock path blazed by Springsteen, are just two that are worth a mention. But what is particularly astounding about this album is that this is their debut release.
In a world where listening to music is completely selective, due to MP3 and pay-per-track downloads, it is a pleasure to hear an album that you are content to put 40minutes out of your day to listen to it in its entirety.
The Verdict
Although I am not completely sold on ‘Sink or Swim’ being the best album of the last 10 years, it is however (at very least) a brilliant standout record. If someone were to tell me that it wasn’t, I would defend it to the hilt. 
out.
