Ron Schuckert

Glad to have the boys back! (9 years after their last album, the underrated “Get Hurt”, which has aged wonderfully.) There are less tracks and more ballads than usual for TGA on “History Books”. Neither is a bad thing necessarily (ironically, it’s the slower songs like “Michigan, 1975” and “The Weatherman” I’m moved to keep coming back to, more so than some the rockers), but it does leave a little something to be desired if you’re here looking the next “Backseat” or “45”. The first half is a terrific balance though (“Autumn” is a hooky, ear worm masterpiece, and the title track with Bruce Springsteen is irresistible, even if I wish it was more of a rocker with Brian and Bruce growling and shredding guitars side-by-side), and I imagine the back half will be a groer, as many of TGA albums are (I’m already getting more from “Little Fires” and “I Live In the Room Above Her” than I did from the first several spins). A solid listen overall - and the songwriting here is both classic TGA while also showcasing their evolving depth and maturity - and I hope, if nothing else, “History Books” got their creative juices flowing again for many more albums (and tours) to come.