Another Week Another Vinyl: The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang

Maybe I should begin entitling these posts, “Another Month Another Vinyl” because I’m certainly not posting on a weekly basis, although I am still purchasing vinyls weekly. Between owning a home for the first time, summer, and work, blogging hasn’t been priority number one.

If you don’t already know, I’m from New Jersey, and if there is a number one rule for all New Jerseyites - I still don’t know how we refer to ourselves - it’s you must love Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. I’m more or less the anomaly of the state, because I’m not a major fan of either. Born to Run and Born in the USA are fine albums for sure, but they’re not in heavy rotation on my stereo. For that matter, The Gaslight Anthem has been working their way up the ranks as another top band of New Jersey, and following my feelings towards other major Jersey acts, I’m a little indifferent to The Gaslight Anthem.

Then came American Slang, an album that has overt influences from Bruce Springsteen, and ironically, I love it! Finally an album from a New Jersey band that I really appreciate. I purchased the vinyl version online from Interpunk for around fifteen dollars - not a bad price. It’s a single black record in a gatefold jacket. Inside the gatefold is the lyrics to each song. I almost feel proud having it in my collection, I’m finally representing my hometown, despite its reputation spiraling down each and every day no thanks to the MTV tool-athon Jersey Shore.

While I’m on my New Jersey musicians kick, I have to mention that on Monday I actually surfed with Bruce Springsteen at Manasquan. Well maybe I didn’t necessarily surf with him, I did notice him on a stand up paddle board paddling out a mile - for what reason I do not know. His son was also with him and having no idea what his son looked like at the time, I was actually surfing right next to him for a bit. After hearing all the hoopla about Bruce’s presence on the shore, I decided to head right over. He was looking away from the crowd of five people surrounding him, so I walked right in front of his line of vision staring intensely, and when we finally made eye contact, all I could muster was, “Hey man, how’s it going.” He just smiled and nodded. It was a true Jersey moment.