Though embraced by roots-rock fans, Gingersol has always placed heavy emphasis on the latter half of that equation. The trend continues with Eastern, where the few scant traces of twang are more implied than expressed. In fact, although sincere, straight-up rock remains chief songwriter Steve Tagliere’s favorite currency on the band’s third full-length (and first since Tagliere and principal partner Seth Rothschild relocated from Los Angeles to New York), his ragged rasp and sweaty Springsteenisms are prettied up and tricked out with a load of synths and loops.
At times, as on “Dunce Cap” and the opener “I Tried”, this formula teeters toward the generic end of the alt-rock spectrum. Elsewhere, though, the results are more encouraging. “You And Your Clouds” is a woozy pop gem, its chorus aglow with hypnotic harmonies. “A Great Day For A War” could be a lost Josh Rouse track. “Birthday Girl” is simply strummed, sung, and phrased straight from the heart: “I believe in you/I’ll give it all I’ve got,” Tagliere vows with quiet intensity.
Best of all, though, is “None Of My Friends”. Anchoring the disc’s middle, it opens as a heart-on-sleeve ballad a la “Here Comes A Regular”, blossoms into Technicolor pop, and fades back to gray. Its haunted vibe is underscored by a whooshing effect that sounds like sweeping old smokes off an empty dance floor.
Rothschild, who plays almost every instrument and produced the album, sings three of his own compositions. Guests include Rami Jaffee of the Wallflowers and Konrad Meissner and Drew Glackin of the Silos.