4/5
Silent Night With Brian Fallon.
Divine is the night, as it is tender. This was supposed to be the roaring 20's like Fitzgerald's Gatsby, Old Sport. But Corona locked all that down in quarantine to begin this decade, a century later. Still, we rise from Halloween with our masks still on. Into a fall were vaccinated we hope we lose no more. Trying to bring it all back on home for the holidays. The time we roar back...is now. But sometimes strength is as subtle as a whisper and sometimes the song in your back pocket that you sing is an old Sinatra standard for the great American songbook like Dylan. Or better yet a timeless hymn that takes us to the heavens and holds us close like the warm embrace of grand generations passed. By gaslight I could tell you about one who sang anthems like Springsteen. His voice alone a love letter to the Meadowlands of New Jersey. Ever since that '59 Sound', 'Handwritten' in 'American Slang' for those who 'Get Hurt'. Brian Fallon, the lead singer of The Gaslight Anthem whose solo streak has been a formidable feat of hiding in plain sight with all his hidden gems to treasure in a mainstream that couldn't measure. From all those 'Painkillers' for those 'Sleepwalkers'. Not to mention the 'Local Honey' of last year. But now with Christmas coming like mailed gifts and Zoomed present openings by the smartphone makeshift fire, our second December 25th in the planets pandemic gets an early present with the hymn book of special songs of the season from Fallon. 'A Night Divine'. "In some ways, I've been working on this record in my head since I was a kid" he tweets. For not only one of the albums of the year, but the best of its kind when it comes to the good tidings this season brings.
A Christmas album this is not merely though. More like a complete set of hymns to praise like the Lord. But it's the perfect thing for this time of year like Ben Harper's instrumental 'Winter Is For Lovers' the last one. Starting the fire with the vivid beauty of 'Virgin Mary Had One Son', Christ his name. "Glory be to the new born King", Brian bears with a voice a little different from his trademark register. All before we finally hear it's him on his version of 'Amazing Grace', talking about how he was saved for all the wretches and Kings like a Linkin Park classic (we still love and miss you, Chester brother). "I hear 'Amazing Grace' sung a lot as a triumphant song, and it is," Fallon told press in promotion for this product. "But I always found grace to be a thing we need when we’re in defeat. When I was little, the people I heard singing this song weren’t triumphant, they were broken, in need of mercy and grace. That’s how I tried to perform this song and that’s the image I had in my mind while recording it." And you can really hear the broken pieces coming back together on this amazing version that shows grace is still good, even if it is dug from the grit of mercy before the grave. The spiritual soul of Fallon forming an album from the music that forged his earliest memories has us rising in turn for a time were we could all do with a pick me up before we really feel in the holiday mood. All as they're starting to put up the Christmas trees and play the songs in Starbucks for what seems a little early as it all comes around again so fast. But 'O Holy Night', singing about this 'Night Divine' you know Fallon's going to take us there in the late night like Jimmy before we close the curtains.
'Nearer, My God, To Thee', Brian gets even closer to the creator. Harmonising the hymn to his sound and showing us that even when we can't see Him or hear Him, the Lord is always by our side. Just like 'Leaning On The Everlasting Arms' of this forever embrace. "What a fellowship, what a joy divine." All as he sings one of my favourites, 'The First Noel', bringing even more power to those "born is the King of Israel" glorious lines. Sing, "Noel, Noel" in this 'Sweet Hour Of Prayer' like two hands together for you or the one you love like holy matrimony. Glory to him, God and Gloria too for the 'Angels We Have Heard On High' as Fallon holds on to that name in vocal praise so beautifully. But it's the searing strings of 'Silent Night' and his version of this vision that will help you "sleep in heavenly peace" like "all is calm, all is bright". This is the kind of accessible but ascending version that could take up a stool at the edge of the local bar and bring real light out the jukebox like the fairy ones draped around the Budweiser logos and neon 'Come On In, We're Open' signs. This invite of inspiration can call a toast as you raise a glass and let the good times last in another year of hurt, because it's the least you deserve. For all you've been through and all you will too before this "dawn of redeeming grace". It's truly a 'Blessing' like that in closing as our man wishes us well and peace before the final amen. "May his favour be upon you. For a thousand generations. And your family, and your children, and their children, and their children," he sings after some outstanding organ playing for this collection, "all around you and within you". Keeping it close and leaving a little room for the Holy Ghost. Because 'Have Mercy', mercy me and remember, no matter what you go through, He is with you. Always. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Virgin Mary Had One Son', 'Amazing Grace', 'Silent Night'.
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