HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Get Hurt – The Gaslight Anthem

Released in August 2014, Get Hurt, the fifth album from THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM, arrived at a crucial moment for the band. Over the years, they gained significant recognition for their Springsteen-influenced heartland rock sound, particularly with their 2008 breakthrough, the incredible The ‘59 Sound. The New Jersey-based band was both braised and pigeonholed by fans and critics alike. Get Hurt represented a bold, deliberate shift in their music direction- one that sought to expand their sonic palette and shed the overwhelming influence of their earlier work. However, upon release, the album was met with mixed reviews and an underwhelming chart performance, leading it to the bands most criminally underrated album in their entire discography. 

Debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, it became the band’s highest charting album at the time. While this seemed like a commercial success on the surface, the album quickly slid down the charts, a sign that it hadn’t resonated with a broader audience unlike previous efforts such as Handwritten. Internationally it peaked at No. 12 in the UK and 19 in Canada, but failed to maintain strong sales momentum. Critically, the album received an unfair and lukewarm reception. Reviews were polarised; some appreciated the band’s attempt to to break away from their established sound whilst others felt that the album lacked the emotional punch and cohesion from their previous work. Rolling Stone gave the album a modest three star review noting that it was “admirably ambitious”, it didn’t quite hit the mark. Other outlets like Pitchfork were less forgiving, criticising the album as being “uneven” and “indecisive” with an overall score that reflected their disappointment. 

Despite the initial reception, Get Hurt has grown in stature over the years, and rightly so. In many ways, the album’s misunderstood nature upon its release has contributed to its cult status among fans. Those who dismissed it at first began to appreciate its complexity and emotional depth with time. This shift in perception mirrors that of other albums that were initially panned but later hailed as significant artistic statements. In this regard, Get Hurt shares a similar fate with albums like In Utero by NIRVANA or Pinkerton by WEEZER, records that at the time were misunderstood because they diverged from the expected path. The cultural impact of Get Hurt is also tied to its role in marking the end of an era for THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM.

Due to severe burn out and fraught relationships within the band, a hiatus followed following their final show at the time at Reading Festival in 2015. In this time, frontman Brian Fallon pursued solo projects. This break only amplified the album’s significance as it came to represent the band’s last major statement before stepping away from the spotlight. Get Hurt has become a touchstone for fans who appreciate the album’s raw emotion and the way it captures the turmoil of a band in transition. 

One of the key reasons that the record was met with such scepticism was its departure from the band’s established sound. Where previous albums were steeped in the blue-collar rock of SPRINGSTEEN and THE REPLACEMENTS, Get Hurt ventured into new territory. Incorporating elements of alt-rock, grunge and even a touch of country. It resulted in a sound that was darker, heavier and more introspective. Tracks such as Stay Vicious and 1,000 Years are prime examples of this shift. The former opens the album with a gritty and distorted riff whereas the latter is an atmospheric mid-tempo song that builds to a cathartic climax. This heavier, abrasive sound was a stark contrast to the earnestness and nostalgic tone of earlier songs in the band’s repertoire.

Even the album’s softer moments such as the title track Get Hurt or Underneath The Ground carry a weight that distinguishes themselves from previous ballads. Delving into themes of heartbreak, disillusionment and self doubt that reflects the personal turmoil that Fallon was experiencing at the time, including the dissolution of his marriage. The vulnerability is palpable  throughout the album, giving it an emotional depth that resonates with repeat listens, particularly in other tracks throughout the album such as Dark Places and Helter Skeleton.

Lyrically, Get Hurt is one of THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM’s most introspective and personal albums. While previous records often focused on storytelling and broader themes of love, loss and nostalgia, Get Hurt turns inward. In this record, Brian Fallon’s lyrics are heartbreaking and confessional, often wrestling with the pain of broken relationships and the struggle to find a sense of self amidst chaos. Title track Get Hurt is a poignant exploration of vulnerability. The song’s simplicity and directness makes it one of the album’s most powerful moments, capturing the raw emotion of someone willing to endure pain for the sake of healing.

Similarly, Break Your Heart and the phenomenal b-side, Halloween are haunting ballads that reflect the inevitability of heart ache with Fallon’s world weary voice conveying a sense of resigned acceptance. These themes of pain and healing are woven through the album, creating a cohesive narrative that resonates deeply with listeners who have gone/are going through similar struggles. It’s an emotional honesty that has endeared Get Hurt to many fans over time, even if it wasn’t immediately recognized upon release. The phenomenal b-side Have Mercy however, does have a hopeful feeling to it and will bring goosebumps to anyone who listens to it. 

In hindsight, Get Hurt is a pivotal moment in THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM’s career. It was a bold, risky attempt to break free from the constraints of their earlier success. While it may not have achieved commercial and critical success of its predecessors, the album’s significance has only grown. It stands as a testament to the bands willingness to evolve and explore new territory, even at the risk of alienating some of their fan base.

Ultimately, Get Hurt is a deeply personal and emotionally charged album that deserves to be re-evaluated as one of the most important and best works for THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM. The initial reception may have been lukewarm, but its long term impact and devotion it has inspired among fans suggest that it is far from a failure. Get Hurt is an absolute triumph, an album that captures the complexity of pain, growth and the search for redemption in a way that only THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM could deliver.

Get Hurt was originally released on August 8th, 2014 via Island Records.

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