HANDWRITTEN: your impressions, comments, and declarations of love

ral wrote:

Holland wrote:

So what would you say is Ian's style? To me it looks like he is mainly just chugging away on the same chords that Brian plays. He isn't actually involved in songwriting is he? Just touring guitarist. Many bands add that extra guitarist for a more beefy sound : Biffy Clyro, Greenday etc. As Ian has been a part of their touring schedule for years I can't see why this is a huge issue.

While we don't know exactly what Ian contributed in the studio, he's in the album notes for guitar and vocals. The songwriting credits go to The Gaslight Anthem (listed as Brian, Alex, Alex and Benny).

Saying Ian's been part of their touring schedule for years is a bit of a stretch. He's played on a 3-4 songs at some shows since 2010, not every song like he's done this year.

By the touring schedule I mean't he has been a guitar tech with them, so has travelled around a lot and been part of their team. Which is different than adding a new face all of a sudden.

yeah he has always been with TGA ever since the outset of the band (practically) he just hasn't been a frontal role

Id love an album that captured that 59 sound magic again. This is an album that lacks the images, characters created by Brian and feels like raw, direct emotion. Thats great and all but doesnt quite work on this for some reason. A few songs i skip repeatedly on the stereo in my car and have tried to revisit them and feel the same. I feel the images, references and characters is what gave it that magic we know as the gaslight anthem and i do miss it. I also understand that Brian wants to move away from this and try new things which i totally get as a songwriter myself. You cant get stuck doing the same thing or its stale. Its hard to describe what i think is the gaslight "magic" we keep talking of

CluckyB wrote:

Really don't think the issues with the album are Ian's fault. Seeing them live with all five of them was just as "magical" as seeing the four of them. The loss of magic was simply caused by a change in material. Blue Dahlia is perfect proof that if Brian wanted to write another album in the same vein as T59S that equaled or surpassed it he probably could. But they'd rather go in another direction and expand their repertoire and just use stuff like Blue Dahlia to taunt us.

Alright. You do have a good point there man. Here here. I will say it still is "magical" seeing all them play together, as when there was the four. No discredit to Ian. I'm sure he's a good lad. Maybe it was just something about seeing the four of them play some pretty amazing songs. I dunno. But, I do like how you said they use stuff like Blue Dahlia to "taunt us." haha It does kinda feel like that.

i know there are long-standing conversations on this thread, but i'm gonna stick my foot in and share a quick opinion.

in that video about the making of Handwritten, which was our first chance to hear parts of a few songs, the song Handwritten was little different than the released version. there were no "whoa oh" vocals at the beginning. and while the whoa-oh's were in there post chorus, i don't think there were any vocals during the little guitar lick. so it was just "whoa-oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh, (guitar lick)."

am i the only one who liked the song much better that way? particularly live, i don't think the album version comes off that well. at the beginning, the focus should be on Benny's drums driving the chords changes through to the guitar lick. and then the reduced "whoa-oh's" could add a little spice the second time around, but then trade off to alex's guitar, instead of overpowering it.

just some thoughts. i think the song is one of their best but i wish it was done a little bit differently.

i do think the whoas sound a little corny

WingsForWheels wrote:

i know there are long-standing conversations on this thread, but i'm gonna stick my foot in and share a quick opinion.

in that video about the making of Handwritten, which was our first chance to hear parts of a few songs, the song Handwritten was little different than the released version. there were no "whoa oh" vocals at the beginning. and while the whoa-oh's were in there post chorus, i don't think there were any vocals during the little guitar lick. so it was just "whoa-oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh, (guitar lick)."

am i the only one who liked the song much better that way? particularly live, i don't think the album version comes off that well. at the beginning, the focus should be on Benny's drums driving the chords changes through to the guitar lick. and then the reduced "whoa-oh's" could add a little spice the second time around, but then trade off to alex's guitar, instead of overpowering it.

just some thoughts. i think the song is one of their best but i wish it was done a little bit differently.

Haha don't ever hesitate to jump into the conversation!

I think I had a weird adjustment with both Handwritten and HCMM after watching that video. I'd have to watch it again to know what you mean by those changes but I do agree 100% that this song does not come off well live. It's sooooo WEAK live. I think Reading is the best version I've heard of it and that's still "eh" compared to the album. It's lacking "oomph" live. I think having all of them sing the "woahs" live makes it weaker.

But on the album, I may not know much about production but it seems like it's the most poorly produced on the album. I always feel like I'm straining to hear it. I'll turn the volume up where it hurts my ears and it still feels far away. That's the best I can describe it. It's a shame because it's my favorite.

I wonder what's with this album and all the whoas. Bit too many?
I didn't notice at first but now they kinda annoy me haha

plugga wrote:

I wonder what's with this album and all the whoas. Bit too many?
I didn't notice at first but now they kinda annoy me haha

Desire to me was the worst offender with the "whoahs"

no the whoas fit in there. and they're kind of "uh huh uuuuhh uh-a-uh"s more than whoas. that makes them cool, everyone knows that.

The "uh-uh-uh-uhhh-uh"s after the Desire chorus are great. The whoOOOOAHHOOAHHs at the beginning of the song are not.

I'm a little lost here ahahah

eagles1139 wrote:

The "uh-uh-uh-uhhh-uh"s after the Desire chorus are great. The whoOOOOAHHOOAHHs at the beginning of the song are not.

touche

I know this is not a particularly popular opinion but I actually think Desire is one of their best songs. I actually think the whoas in Desire sound better than in Handwritten.

nico0493 wrote:

I know this is not a particularly popular opinion but I actually think Desire is one of their best songs. I actually think the whoas in Desire sound better than in Handwritten.

I love Desire too. It is in my top 5 Handwritten songs. I love the Gaslight songs on each record that have a kind of upbeat, romantic vibe. For me Desire is that song on Handwritten, The Spirit Of Jazz is that song on AS and Casanova, Baby! is that song on The '59 Sound for me. I guess Desire might not be lyrically as deep as some of the other songs but it is fun and catchy and I always turn it up when it comes on

Christophe wrote:

nico0493 wrote:

I know this is not a particularly popular opinion but I actually think Desire is one of their best songs. I actually think the whoas in Desire sound better than in Handwritten.

I love Desire too. It is in my top 5 Handwritten songs. I love the Gaslight songs on each record that have a kind of upbeat, romantic vibe. For me Desire is that song on Handwritten, The Spirit Of Jazz is that song on AS and Casanova, Baby! is that song on The '59 Sound for me. I guess Desire might not be lyrically as deep as some of the other songs but it is fun and catchy and I always turn it up when it comes on

EXACTLY! I don't know if it's lyrically deep (thats such a complex term I prefer not to use it although I agree it is different from the past records) I just think it is beautifully written. It is exactly what the song demanded, not a word more not a word less, just what the guys had to say. I understand why people might not like it so much but I personally love it.

Never made that connection but they actually have something in common those three songs. I would put Say I wont in the list. Straight forward feel-good awesome music

eagles1139 wrote:

The "uh-uh-uh-uhhh-uh"s after the Desire chorus are great. The whoOOOOAHHOOAHHs at the beginning of the song are not.

Precisely.

nico0493 wrote:

Christophe wrote:

nico0493 wrote:

I know this is not a particularly popular opinion but I actually think Desire is one of their best songs. I actually think the whoas in Desire sound better than in Handwritten.

I love Desire too. It is in my top 5 Handwritten songs. I love the Gaslight songs on each record that have a kind of upbeat, romantic vibe. For me Desire is that song on Handwritten, The Spirit Of Jazz is that song on AS and Casanova, Baby! is that song on The '59 Sound for me. I guess Desire might not be lyrically as deep as some of the other songs but it is fun and catchy and I always turn it up when it comes on

EXACTLY! I don't know if it's lyrically deep (thats such a complex term I prefer not to use it although I agree it is different from the past records) I just think it is beautifully written. It is exactly what the song demanded, not a word more not a word less, just what the guys had to say. I understand why people might not like it so much but I personally love it.

Never made that connection but they actually have something in common those three songs. I would put Say I wont in the list. Straight forward feel-good awesome music

Yeah I would put Say I Won't in there too. I think I would say We Came To Dance is the standout romantic song on SoS too. I love these type of songs. Like you say they are just great 'feel-good awesome music'

For me the Gaslight/Fallon magic lies in the perfect blend of the right kind of lyrics and music.

What makes me sit up is Brian's skill at creating lyrical movies and portraits, "we do", "she is", "they are", "I was", or when he addresses another person directly. What doesn't work, for me at least, and that's where the magic goes missing, is when it is merely "I feel".

Shrewsbury_Stars wrote:

eagles1139 wrote:

The "uh-uh-uh-uhhh-uh"s after the Desire chorus are great. The whoOOOOAHHOOAHHs at the beginning of the song are not.

Precisely.

Agree 100%. And I think that happens more than just at the beginning. It's anytime that you hear all of them singing. I think they make it cross over into "cheesy" a little bit.

Listened to it again today in search of the missing something. That missing something, I think, is 'the joys of living'. The other albums made me glad to be alive.

steady now steady now wrote:

Listened to it again today in search of the missing something. That missing something, I think, is 'the joys of living'. The other albums made me glad to be alive.

That made me laugh lol! handwritten doesnt make me wish i wasnt alive, but i see your point definately

That's basically what I've thought. On the older records, even if the lyrics themselves were quite sad, there was some kind of joy and hopefulness in the music. Not really feeling that on Handwritten. It's kind of a downer of a record.

bringiton_ty wrote:

steady now steady now wrote:

Listened to it again today in search of the missing something. That missing something, I think, is 'the joys of living'. The other albums made me glad to be alive.

That made me laugh lol! handwritten doesnt make me wish i wasnt alive, but i see your point definately

glad you saw my point; I certainly didn't mean it made me want to jump off

haha i gathered/hoped that! i think it was the excitement of the night,situations and hope conveyed in the songs that came accross clearer in previous albums (still dont feel that sums up what im thinking but ah well)