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American Slang Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 48 Ratings

Top Track

American Slang
Look what you started, I seem to be coming out of my skin Look what you've forgotten here The bandages just don't keep me in And when it was over,... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 29
  2. Negative: 1 out of 29
  1. 100
    American Slang delivers spectacularly on all expected fronts. Everything that was great about The '59 Sound is here, but the sound is even bigger, epic without getting blustery.
  2. Fallon's understanding of the redemptive power of music elevates American Slang from being a good record to a great one.
  3. With shouted-till-we're-hoarse vocals, taut guitars, and a grizzled demeanor that suggests too many night shifts, they've got Garden State attitude down.
  4. Make no mistake--that Jersey (GA's home state) vibe still lurks in the corners. It's just that his writing style is more distinctive here. It's also the sound of a band pushing itself while capitalizing on its strengths.
  5. 80
    American Slang sticks to the template Fallon's been hammering away at since the band's beginning; its stories star the same kind of characters and its garage-punk sound still sparkles with flashes of Motown and R&B.
  6. Even if many of the album's lyrics find Fallon looking back in anger, American Slang ultimately proves The Gaslight Anthem are not afraid to move forward.
  7. After their breakthrough, The '59 Sound, the Jerseyian punks appear to have taken a Green Day-like career shift: finding a concept that struck a chord and beating it to death like one of the down-and-out ciphers in the B-movie quality Springsteen worldview they've constructed.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Jan 3, 2013
    10
    Brilliant band, brilliant album. If you enjoy good music that has a genuine sound and great lyrics then you will love The Gaslight Anthem. IBrilliant band, brilliant album. If you enjoy good music that has a genuine sound and great lyrics then you will love The Gaslight Anthem. I must have listened to this album over a hundred times and I'm not bored yet. Expand
  2. Jul 26, 2013
    10
    American Slang is a fairly short album and for that reason, every single song on the album really aims to be a huge anthem. This is wellAmerican Slang is a fairly short album and for that reason, every single song on the album really aims to be a huge anthem. This is well achieved by The Gaslight Anthem and the only song to deviate from this formula is We Did It When We Were Young which is my favourite track on this album closely followed by The Spirit of Jazz and Orphans. Expand
  3. PB
    Jun 15, 2010
    10
    Even better than The '59 Sound. This album is fantastic and The Gaslight Anthem are set to take the summer music scene by storm.
  4. Jan 23, 2011
    9
    American Slang is a great album. It's a different sounding from The 59' Sound. Not as good as The 59' Sound but pretty damn close. Every trackAmerican Slang is a great album. It's a different sounding from The 59' Sound. Not as good as The 59' Sound but pretty damn close. Every track sounds like a single. The opening track "American Slang" is a great start to this album. "Orphans" gets you going right from the beginning from the track. And "We Did It When We Were Young" is a great ending song the this amazing album. All In All, American Slang shows us story of raw emotion and it all sounds great. A- Expand
  5. bkkhan
    Jun 15, 2010
    9
    The Gaslight Anthem are simply a fun band--their music is jam-packed with catchy hooks and choruses, and their music is often joyful. This is The Gaslight Anthem are simply a fun band--their music is jam-packed with catchy hooks and choruses, and their music is often joyful. This is really the sound of summer! Expand
  6. May 15, 2012
    8
    By far the best release from The Gaslight Anthem, after two albums full of inconsistent yet (at times) entertaining songs throughout, TheyBy far the best release from The Gaslight Anthem, after two albums full of inconsistent yet (at times) entertaining songs throughout, They have finally created a record with some structure and consistency in genre. Simple yet effective guitar work combined with Fallon's peak performance vocally make for some incredible songs. American Slang, Boxer, The Diamond Church Street Choir and She Loves you are my standout picks from the album, although you will have a hard time finding a bad song on American Slang. Expand
  7. Mel@T
    Jun 15, 2010
    8
    Another great album by these guys. Not as immediately catchy as 59 sound, but give it a couple of listens if you're at first Another great album by these guys. Not as immediately catchy as 59 sound, but give it a couple of listens if you're at first disappointed and you'll warm up to it. Expand

See all 9 User Reviews

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