I know what most of you are thinking.
A blog post about an artist I’ve never heard of. Whoop-de-doo. Next! Unless there are pancakes. Are there pancakes? I might read it if you serve pancakes.
There are no pancakes. This isn’t a restaurant. I do have a bottle of syrup, though. It’s basically a First Aid item. You can pass it around if you need an incentive to stick around.
I just made a desperate syrup pun. You better keep reading.
After all, our favourite songs are sung by people we, at one point, had never heard of. So with an open mind and a couple of ears, give this a chance.
For the rest of you who know who Brian Fallon is, I’ll sneak you some pancakes later since you’ve been so patient. Just don’t let the others see them.
I don’t know how this turned into a breakfast post. I need to stop rambling when I write. I’ve been doing it a lot lately.
This separates me from the other bloggers, though, doesn’t it? You never know what the next sentence is going to say, so you have to read it. That’s my trick. I’ve said too much.
Alright!
Brian Fallon has been in such bands as: The Gaslight Anthem, The Horrible Crowes, and Molly and the Zombies. In 2016, he released a solo album called, Painkillers. This year, he released another one called, Sleepwalkers.
There, that’s my little elementary school-esque bio.
I started getting into Fallon’s music at the recommendation of my best friend, Chris. That’s two consecutive blog posts now that I’ve mentioned “My best friend, Chris” so unless I start getting some shoutouts on his blog, I’m going to cease and desist my references.
I’m kidding.
To Chris’ credit, he had been telling me about Fallon for years (probably). But I was skeptical of his song suggestions. For the majority of our 73-year (slight exaggeration) friendship, we only ever agreed on about three songs.
The main one being, Runaround Sue. Of all songs!
In 2016, he sent me a song called, Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts by The Gaslight Anthem. I hated it before I listened to it, mainly because I don’t like wearing jeans. Other people make them seem so comfortable, but if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s other people.
Thankfully, I don’t have anything against white t-shirts and gave the song a listen.
Well knock me over and avoid me like yellow snow. I liked the song!
From there, my interest in Fallon’s music took off like a horse in the Kentucky Derby – quickly and with a foul odour.
I remember we were driving somewhere to meet friends for dinner. It was right after Fallon had released his first solo album. I sat in the car playing songs from that album on my phone – songs that Chris hadn’t heard yet.
Oh, how the turntables.
Two years later, Chris still thinks this is an elaborate hoax on my part and that I don’t actually like Fallon’s music, because the idea that we share the same taste in music is a bit too unbelievable.
What do I like about Brian Fallon’s music, you don’t ask?
Well, his lyrics actually mean something. He has a way of saying the things that we all feel at one point or another. (I’ll share some lyrics below each song so you can get an idea.)
He’s not singing the same four lines for four minutes, hoping the listener doesn’t realize that he hasn’t put an actual sentence together since Grade 6, when he did a book report on Harry Potter, like some artists.
Every few weeks, I write a poem and post it on my blog. They take me about an hour to write. A lot of them have been written while listening to a Brian Fallon song on repeat. They get me in the right headspace.
This brings me to my Top 10 list. This is strictly subjective, so if anyone disagrees with my order, you’re wrong.
But Paul, that’s not was subjective means. I know what I said!
I really hope someone is reading my blog for the first time and this is the post they stumbled upon. They’d have no clue what to make of me.
If these songs aren’t your cup of tea, they aren’t your cup of tea. Maybe I can interest you in some apple juice. What? Anyway, give them a chance. For me. But mainly yourself. Thanks.
10. Brian Fallon – Forget Me Not
Oh would you put your black dress on and visit my bones?
And bring my football top and a scarf for the cold
Playing melancholy songs that somehow made us
(Feel a whole lot better)
9. The Gaslight Anthem – Have Mercy
Now your pretty horses run wild and free
You can go and find a lover, baby, better than me
Talking snow for days with your friends in L.A.
Have mercy
8. Brian Fallon – Among Other Foolish Things
I got a picture of you on the dashboard
So I can feel like you’re watching right over me
I hope someday you’re gonna move to the city
‘Cause the lights in this town, they don’t brighten up anything
7. The Gaslight Anthem – 45
Have you seen my hands
Just look at ’em shake
And the song just keeps on repeating
Drop the needle again
And I dance with your ghost
Oh, but that ain’t the way
I can’t move on and I can’t stay the same
6. Brian Fallon – Rosemary
And I hear ya cryin’ over the phone
“Where have all the good times gone?”
Downing the glass of shouting matches
Lost in the songs they don’t write anymore
5. The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound
Did you hear the fifty-nine sound coming through on grandmother’s radio?
Did you hear the rattling chains in the hospital walls?
Did you hear the old gospel choir when they came to carry you over?
Did you hear your favorite song one last time?
4. The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt
I came to get hurt,
Might as well do your worst to me, hey hey
Have you come here to get hurt?
Have you come to take away from me
From me, from me
Might as well do your worst to me
3. The Gaslight Anthem – Stray Paper
You better never tell nobody but God,
All the things I’ve seen.
From high above this haunted city,
Under elected thrones of thieves.
2. The Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten
Here in the dark, I cherish the moonlight
I’m in love with the way you’re in love with the night
And it travels from heart to limb to pen
1. Brian Fallon – Nobody Wins
Hey, hey little Tommy gun
I guess we’re never gonna end up the lucky ones
If I never see you again
Have a round on me love, hallelujah, nobody wins
Well, that’s it.
- Did you like any of the songs?
- If you had to do a Top 10 list of your own, which artist/band would you choose?
- Did the music video for Nobody Wins make you feel things?
- Are you still wondering if there are pancakes?
- Will you be saying “Fiddle-breadsticks” from now on?
I really REALLY loved that last one…. def just put me on a bit of a downer though- music affects me HEAVILY… it drastically and almost instantaneously changes my mood for the better or the worse… for the classy or the gangster… for the spunky or for the lovey-dovey I mean… music is basically witchcraft. It controls us from the inside. I also heard sound of ’59 and that was a cool one too. Def a new style for me- I’m pretty much an old 90’s soul when it comes to my favorite music and I’m moved my more R&B, POp and hip-hop artists but I also hear some underground poet-rap by Sage Francis- it’s heavy, not for everyone… and I love the old Linkin Park and maroon 5 and all the good stuff too. Anyways- thanks for sharing. Music is everything to me. It’s gotten me through so much…. it’s picked me up and it’s also inspired me through and through. I’m with you on the passion.
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Such a great song! Sad video though. Sorry if it got you a somber mood. Sometimes I’ll go on YouTube and listen to some 90s songs for nostalgic purposes but I don’t know if I can listen to them repeatedly. The old Linkin Park was great though! Thanks for reading and giving the songs a try, I appreciate it! 🙂
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I left a comment here. Please tell me it went through. Why do these things happen to me! Lol
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LOL I got it!
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FIDDLEBREADSTICKS!!
I liked the first one (#10? Ugh backwards…) and added it to a Spotify playlist so I can listen to it again.
Handwritten is really good…
YOU CRUEL PERSON “NOBODY WINS” WAS SO SWEET AND SAD!! I ALMOST CRIED WATCHING THE MUSIC VIDEO! 😖 It was really beautiful though so thanks for sharing too. 🙂
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Fiddlebreadsticks is a word that going to take off! Just watch! Handwritten is so good.
Hahaha I should’ve put a warning before Nobody Wins. Thank you for taking the time to listen to them! Means a lot.
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That was a sad video, great song. I see why you like the lyrics. I really like Old White Lincoln by Gaslight Anthem. I am definitely going to have to listen to more. If I had to do a top 10 list, I think I’d start with Cage the Elephant. And then maybe a top ten of folksy types (Mumford, Avett Brothers, Lumineers, Head and the Heart…) That would be hard to narrow to ten though. Anyways, this is a great post! I love music suggestions.
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I like Old White Lincoln as well! There were a lot more that could’ve made the top 10 list, his songs are just that good. I don’t think I’ve heard a Cage the Elephant song before, which one would you recommend?
Thanks for reading!
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My favorite Cage the Elephant songs..Cigarette Daydreams, Trouble, Cold Cold Cold, and their version of Whole Wide World is really good too.
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Nobody wins is my fave. I would have to say 45 and the 59′ sounds will be 2nd and 3rd
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Good choices. I could’ve shoved about 7 of these into my top 3 they’re just that good.
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I downloaded 2 albums. Im going to listen as I clean and see if I keep the albums.
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Awesome! Hope you like them.
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