Painkillers, Brian Fallon, album review: Solid, genuinely inspired songwriting for The Gaslight Anthem fans

Download: ‘Smoke’, ‘Rosemary' ‘A Wonderful Life’ and ‘Mojo Hand’​

Brian Fallon performing with The Gaslight Anthem who are currently on indefinite hiatus (Getty Images)

Brian Fallon is much more than your average Bruce Springsteen wannabe. Like The Boss, The Gaslight Anthem’s frontman was born and bred in New Jersey, but the depth and authenticity felt on fist-pumping solo debut Painkillers is convincingly his own.

Opener “A Wonderful Life” is shamelessly jam-packed with cliched, “picture show” images of kisses in the night and desire on fire while the punchy “Among Other Foolish Things” offers a heartland rock alternative to Taylor Swift when craving a cynical break-up song.

Catchy clap-along “Smoke” has a driving Americana force behind it while the sleazier “Mojo Hand” plays with a bluesy, country edge. Fallon is at his best on these anthemic road trip songs, with downbeat tracks “Steve McQueen”, and “Honey Magnolia” lacking the oft-needed subtlety that has never been his strength.

Title track “Painkillers” feels cheesy while “Red Lights” continues Fallon's well-worn themes of longing and desperation. He invests hefty emotional charge into “Rosemary”, it’s heart-thumping drums and soaring guitar adding weight to his rasping, yearning vocals.

Fallon is never going to escape the Springsteen comparisons that still cling to him like those Born to Run leathers, but this is solid, genuinely inspired songwriting that TGA fans will enjoy.

Out 11 March through Virgin EMI Records