Elsie SideOneDummy Records***

Brian Fallon is no stranger to side projects and collaborations. The Gaslight Anthem is the New Jersey man's bread and butter, though his scope has extended to alliances with many other musicians. The latest is a band founded with friend and roadie Ian Perkins. Given Fallon's musical influences (Springsteen, The Clash, The Replacements), it won't come as any surprise that The Horrible Crowes aren't hugely dissimilar to the broody rock he usually peddles. Yet tracks such as Mary Ann allow the grizzled theatricality ofTom Waits to seep into the record's cracks, while the slinky, ska-laced I Witnessed a Crimediverges from the dark, funereal thrum. It's hardly pioneering,yet the beautifully rich, velvety tone enveloping Elsiemakes ita mature advancement of Fallon's songwriting savvy. See thehorriblecrowes.com

Download tracks: Mary Ann, I Witnessed a Crime