What makes The B-Sides by The Gaslight Anthem notable?

The B-Sides received positive critical acclaim for its raw production and heartfelt performances, reinforcing The Gaslight Anthem's reputation as an influential voice in modern rock. It features acoustic renditions of fan favorites, further deepening the emotional resonance of their catalog and highlighting their lyrical prowess. Released on January 28, 2014, The B-Sides came after The Gaslight Anthem's fifth studio album, Handwritten. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their legacy within the Americana and punk rock scenes while exploring more stripped-back interpretations of their music. This compilation showcases a blend of previously unreleased tracks and acoustic versions, marking a reflective moment for the band.

Who is The B-Sides for?

The B-Sides works well if you're into reflective moments of acoustic intimacy, steady pacing for thoughtful listening and live energy with nostalgic echoes.

How many songs are on The B-Sides?

The B-Sides has 11 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

The B-Sides

The Gaslight Anthem · 2014

38 min · 11 tracks · punk rock

An intimate collection of acoustic renditions and rarities that highlights the band’s storytelling and emotional depth.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
The '59 Sound (acoustic) — This acoustic version strips down a classic anthem, allowing the poignant lyrics about nostalgia and loss to shine through with greater clarity.
→
Great Expectations (acoustic) — Transforming a full-band track into an acoustic arrangement reveals layers of intimacy and vulnerability in the songwriting that resonate deeply with listeners.
→
American Slang (acoustic) — The acoustic rendition offers a fresh perspective on a staple song, emphasizing its themes of identity and belonging while showcasing the band's lyrical craftsmanship.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The B-Sides offers a mix of acoustic renditions and live tracks that highlight the band's storytelling but lacks strong cohesion.

What we noticed

The album features several acoustic renditions of previously released songs, emphasizing stripped-down instrumentation and vocal delivery.
The live track is placed in the middle of the sequence, creating a contrast with the more polished studio recordings surrounding it.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

reflective moments of acoustic intimacy
steady pacing for thoughtful listening
live energy with nostalgic echoes
short tracks for quick enjoyment

Maybe skip if you

seekers of high-energy beats
prefer standalone singles over collections

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on January 28, 2014, The B-Sides came after The Gaslight Anthem's fifth studio album, Handwritten. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their legacy within the Americana and punk rock scenes while exploring more stripped-back interpretations of their music. This compilation showcases a blend of previously unreleased tracks and acoustic versions, marking a reflective moment for the band.
Stylistic neighbors: The Menzingers· Against Me!· Frank Turner