What’s the matter with you? Have you never listened to The Clash, or Bruce Springsteen, or literally any band?’ This is a thing. “People weren’t sure about that,” remembered Fallon, “and I was like, ‘Yeah, tape echo. That nostalgia and sense or warmth is enhanced by the decision to add a slapback effect to Fallon’s vocals, evoking 1950s rock ’n’ roll and 1960s soul – the latter a particular source of great inspiration for the songwriter. “I don’t know, I think I was waiting for it.” “I just reached out and grabbed it,” said Fallon. I was a firm believer in the magic of things, and I obviously couldn’t afford a real one, so I would build it.” “I discovered that was the sound they were using on all those Sam Cooke and Elvis Presley records,” Fallon this said. And he was chasing it to the extent that he was in the process of gutting a reissue and rebuilding it with vintage parts. The album’s title refers to the fact frontman Brian Fallon was chasing a certain tone for the album: that of a 1959 Fender Bassman. Which did lead to a couple of ideas I don’t think we would’ve had otherwise.”
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For last record we had about five weeks and quite the arsenal of gear to tear through. Guitarist Alex Rosamilia said at the time: “For Sink Or Swim, we had a week or so and what we brought to the studio. Over five weeks at Sage & Sound and Mad Dog Studios the band pulled together a masterpiece that added breadth and beef to the band’s already distinctive sound, with just enough pop sensibility to smash down the doors to mainstream radio.