The ones in Autumn are some of my most proud moments. And Spider Bites, too. Just the simplicity of, ‘ And so we struggle for each other,’ I would have never said that before – I would have made it into much more of a complex statement, and I wouldn’t have had the confidence to just say the simplest thing. And I think a lot of the lyrics to Positive Charge are some of my favourites, too; they capture what I was saying so well. And Michigan, 1975 – that’s like my little baby. I wanted that song so bad, and I really just love it.” a b c d Brodsky, Rachel (July 21, 2023). "The Gaslight Anthem Share New Song "History Books" Featuring Bruce Springsteen". Stereogum . Retrieved July 21, 2023. Following the conclusion of the touring cycle for their previous album, Get Hurt, at Reading Festival on August 30, 2015, [7] the Gaslight Anthem entered an indefinite hiatus, aside from a short tour in 2018 celebrating the 10th anniversary of their 2008 album The '59 Sound, [8] with the band members pursuing new projects and solo careers. Following the reunion announcement, on March 28 the band announced a world tour, with dates across Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [16] The tour began at the Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany, on August 9, 2022, and concluded on October 8, 2022, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, [17] with another round of tour dates across North America throughout May 2023 announced in February 2023. [18]

Saalman, Austin. "The Gaslight Anthem - History Books (Thirty Tigers)". Under the Radar . Retrieved October 29, 2023. The Gaslight Anthem's 2023 LP History Books serves as their first since 2014, and the band brings such ferocity to their return, it sounds as if they're trying to wipe away a near-decade's worth of cobwebs in a single riff, cymbal crash, and lyric. Somber but not sad, History Books recalls the urgency and triumph of the band's sophomore effort and That was probably inspired by coming out of that really long 20-year, 30-year period of feeling mentally disconnected from the universe, and feeling like, ‘Why is every day so hard? This is terrible.’ And going to therapy and getting medication, I was then reflecting a little bit on that and going, ‘Man, if I had the things that I have now, and the way that I feel now, and the life that I have now, I’d be young so much better!’ Because I would have enjoyed it, is what the real meaning is. I don’t think that I really enjoyed growing up, because I was struggling the whole time.” The Sailor Jerry Podcast Ep. 53 — Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem)" . Retrieved August 16, 2023– via YouTube.Mueller, Andrew (October 27, 2023). "The Gaslight Anthem – History Books". Uncut . Retrieved October 29, 2023. Sputnikmusic gave History Books a 3.8 out 5, criticizing album opener "Spider Bites" as a "clunky song" with "bland verse structure" and a "repetitive chorus", [35] a criticism echoed by Brian Stout in his 7 out of 10 review for PopMatters, stating that the song could "only muster up one memorable line." [34] In spite of their initial criticisms however, Sputnikmusic ultimately concluded that "this isn’t an album to convert the naysayers, but for the already initiated, prepare yourself to once more sing with your heroes, 33 rounds per minute", [35] a sentiment once again shared by Stout: "Longtime fans will probably find plenty to like, even love, about History Books. The Gaslight Anthem are in fine form; Fallon’s still a charismatic singer, and he still shows flashes of brilliance in his lyrics." [34] Ultratop.be – The Gaslight Anthem – History Books" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2023.

Austriancharts.at – The Gaslight Anthem – History Books" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.Shutler, Ali (April 29, 2023). "The Gaslight Anthem return with first new song in nine years, announce US tour". NME . Retrieved August 16, 2023. I always have ideas going, and there’s little stuff here and there. I’m sure we’ll start to make new stuff soon. We always do – we’re always moving around and making music. It’s just what we do!” Finally, when you released your third solo album Local Honey, you said that it was one “for the headphones”. What are the optimum surroundings for people to listen to History Books? a b c Stout, Brian (October 24, 2023). "The Gaslight Anthem Are in Fine Form on History Books". PopMatters . Retrieved October 28, 2023. Offiziellecharts.de – The Gaslight Anthem – History Books" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 3, 2023.

Dillon, Ryan (October 25, 2023). "Gaslight Anthem's History Books Is As Refreshing As It Is Familiar (Album Review)". Glide Magazine . Retrieved October 28, 2023. I Live In The Room Above Her’ explodes with powerful guitar riffs, staging a grand introduction, tempering off a little for the verses while still holding a bite to the tones. The dramatic swinging of the main hook culminates in the biggest chorus on History Books. The distorted guitar tones ring out and a softer final verse fades out. Album closer ‘A Lifetime of Preludes’ mirrors the solemn album introduction of ‘Spider Bites’, sending History Books home on a soft and somber note filled with regretful nostalgia and holding a bittersweet finality to itself. This is a mental freedom record,” Brian explains. “I think it’s what happens after you’re mentally healthy. I’m not trying to say that all my problems are sorted out, but I was free; I felt like I was in a mental prison my entire life, and I feel like I’m not there anymore, and that feels good. This is the first record I wrote like that.”Cohen, Jonathan. "The Gaslight Anthem Reveal 2022 Reunion Tour Dates". Spin . Retrieved July 21, 2023. In the tradition of their seminal sophomore album The ’59 Sound, The Gaslight Anthem’s sixth full-length ultimately achieves the tremendous feat of hitting every raw nerve while endlessly inspiring wildly triumphant singing-along. “A lot of this record is questioning all the bad stuff we see in the world and the difficult things we go through in life, and asking how to deal with it,” says vocalist / guitarist Brian Fallon, whose bandmates include drummer Benny Horowitz, bassist Alex Levine, and lead guitarist Alex Rosamilia. “I think the answer is that we’re all in this together and that somehow makes it okay, even when it’s anything but easy. The main message of the album is empathy.

The Gaslight Anthem Concert Setlist at House of Blues, Houston, TX, USA". setlist.fm . Retrieved July 21, 2023. The Gaslight Anthem Announce 2024 UK/European Tour, Plus 2000Trees Headline Set". October 3, 2023 . Retrieved October 3, 2023– via YouTube. Fallon's experiences with therapy and medication influenced the album's direction and themes. He highlighted "Positive Charge", the first song he wrote for the record, as "a message of joy to ourselves and to our audience" about "looking at the things you've come through and feeling like you want to go ahead with an open heart toward the future, believing that the best years are not behind any of us and the good we have is worth something." [14]

Tracklist

The band premiered "Michigan, 1975" at a show in Michigan on September 16, playing the studio version over the PA system in lieu of a traditional encore break, with Fallon stating that fans were free to share any recordings of it after the fact. [24] On September, 19 the band announced two homecoming shows celebrating the release of History Books at the White Eagle Hall in New Jersey on October 27 and 28. [25] An additional two dates were added on September 20, [26] scheduled for 29 and 30, with all four shows selling out by September 22. The record’s fourth single, "Autumn" was released on October 3, accompanied by the announcement of EU/UK tour dates throughout 2024, including a headline slot at 2000 Trees Festival. [27] Lugen, Mikala (March 28, 2022). "The Gaslight Anthem Announce First Headlining World Tour in Four Years". Volume Utah . Retrieved October 18, 2022.