Lenny Lashley’s Gang Of One – All Are Welcome

Pirates Press Records

 

I wouldn’t consider listening to Bruce Springsteen a guilty pleasure – he’s The Boss for crying out loud! Therefor I got no shame in writing down that I own every, and then some, Springsteen album, with “Nebreska” being one of my all-time favorite albums – and not just by The Boss! Now what does this confession have anything to do with Lenny Lashley’s second Gang Of One album “All Are Welcome”? Well, not that much to be honest. Aside that it might give you a little insight on why I absolutely love Lenny Lashley’s sophomore LP!

 

Along with other Boston heavy weights such as Johnny Rioux (The Bruisers, Street Dogs) and Joe Sirios (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Street Dogs), Lenny (Darkbuster, Street Dogs – since we are on the subject of name dropping) created an album that blends rock, folk, Americana and acoustic music into perfection. Topped off with a punk rock heart and mindset, Lashley’s distinctive, Bostonian voice will have you glued to your speakers for nearly 32 minutes. Minutes that are full of hope, fire, a bit of melancholy and a great fighting spirit, but above all - beautiful song writing!

 

Recorded, produced and engineered by Pete Steinkopf (The Bouncing Souls), in where else but Asbury Park, New Jersey – Lashley laid down a total of ten new tracks that will fascinate from start to finish. Musically influenced by American greats such as the aforementioned Springsteen and Tom Petty, resemblances to ‘newer’ singer/songwriters such as Tim Barry, Dave Hause and especially both Brian Fallon and his band The Gaslight Anthem are inevitable, yet logical, as well. And while Lenny’s voice and sound is grittier than the latter, I wouldn’t be surprised if “All Are Welcome” will mean Lenny Lashley’s Gang Of One’s definitive breakthrough – though that opening slot on Dropkick Murphys’ upcoming American tour sure will help!

 

Packed in a stunning sleeve with hot foil stamping (which is also featured on the digipak CD-version), Pirates Press Records went all out again in both the packaging and pressing a sick variety of colored vinyl, making this release a must-have for collectors and fans of American born and bred rock ‘n’ roll alike! Superb.