Released              9 February 2018

Label                     Island Records/Virgin EMI

Highlights            Forget Me Not, Etta James and Proof Of Life

Lows                      Her Majesty’s Service and Watson

Best Lyric             “So gimme all your troubles, Gimmer all the spiders in your brains” from Proof of Life

I’ve been listening to Brian Fallon’s second solo record all week waiting to fall in love with it….. and so far it hasn’t happened. That doesn’t mean for a second that this is a bad record. It’s not. It’s a really good listen but it’s a “grower” and I’d say, nine days in, I’m very fond of it but the love I have for Painkillers, his solo debut, just isn’t there …yet.  I think what’s frustrating me here are the numerous British references throughout the lyrics of various songs on this album. It’s like an English tourist board commercial. Yes I get there’s an element of respect being paid to the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Clash but it just doesn’t sit well with me. I miss the “American dream”….. sorry, Brian.

Highlight song for me is Forget Me Not but I wish that the acoustic version had been included as a bonus track option. The acoustic version showcases this song’s versatility and is truly beautiful.

All of this said, I’m really looking forward to seeing Brian Fallon and the Howling Weather later this week and then to seeing him again in July with the Gaslight Anthem for the 10^th anniversary of The ’59 Sound.

 Rating                   8/10

(images sourced via Google – credits to the owners)