The Hold Steady
 

My friend convinced me to check them out, the vocals kind of bug me after awhile but I like the lyrics. Boys And Girls In America is solid i'll up it if anyone wants it.

Recommendations
Stuck Between Stations
Banging Camp
You Can Make Him Like You

MySpace.com - The Hold Steady - BROOKLYN - Rock / Rock / Rock - www.myspace.com/theholdsteady

The Boss > > > > > > > > > > > These Hussys

I couldn't see why Pitchfork declared Boys and girls in America the best rock album of 2006. It seemed very bland to me.

They didn't. Return To Cookie Mountain was their best indie rock album of 2006. And also, it's not always about innovation and ingenuity; the merits of this record are its wit and its general "fun-ness". If it's mind-blowing, impressive experimental music you're after, wrong band and wrong sub-genre.

No not really, I search for good music, which The Hold Steady are not. I love rock, but I turned off BAGIA after the first couple of songs out of sheer boredom. Actually, they started to annoy me.

So in other words, basically, you formed a complete judgment without listening to the whole record.

If he didn't like the first few songs why would on earth would he like the rest?

I don't really like this band either. I've heard all 3 of their albums, and Finn's stuff with Lifter Puller, and I dislike them for the same reason as adidas. Finn's voice drives me crazy, and all their songs bored the shit out of me. However, I saw them live last year with Les Savy Fav (NEW ALBUM SOON w00t), and they were ridiculously fun. The show had also opened with Swearing At Motorists and Thunderbirds Are Now!, and they blew both of them out of the water (then again, TAN! suck live regardless). Unfortunately, they just haven't matched their live show on record yet.

Basically.

You're right the lyrics are annoying. I can't listen to more than half a song...

I love this band, i think Craig Finn is a great lyricist, i like absolutely everything about Boys and Girls in America except for track 7. Loved the first two albums and Lifter Puller as well. "Secret Santa Cruz" is one of my favourite songs. And with all this said, I can certainly understand why they don't appeal to so many people.

They make epic reproductions of classic rock that is about how big the small moments in our lives are (and they do sound like Springsteen in almost every way). You've told me many times that you don't have much, if any interest in classic rock...so this record really wasn't made for you. Plus, you seem to make brash generalizations without ever supporting your opinion (example (from movieforums.com:) you: Marquee Moon is overrated. Me: Why do you think that? You: It's not good)

First off, don't misquote me mister, I said it was one of the most overrated pieces of garbage ever, you asked me to elaborate, I said " It sucks....a lot". Surely that is an elaboration worthy even of such an esteemed scholar of classic rock as yourself?!
Forgive me, but not even the most brilliant lyricist on the planet could salvage a dull piece of music. I don't particularly like classic rock yes, I prefer something new and original regarding style, but if the likes of The white stripes can produce exciting rock music (that is very much rooted in the classic rock genre), I don't see why I should tolerate a band that never should have left the local bar scene. This is in no way a brash generalization, it's quite individualized, The Hold Steady make boring music that gets on my tits.

I think that's part of their appeal in a sense...and in a slightly different way than you're saying it here. They're so rooted in the culture of their hometown(Minneapolis) in the same way that Springsteen was, that they're like local colorists of the music world, which is a term that means a writer who specializes in stories that convey the distinct flavor of the locale they inhabit (like feminist author Kate Chopin as she delivered us an inside track to the Cajun lifestyle in 19th century America) and the title of the album is based on a quote from Kerouac (point being that a sense for the literary permeates their work in a way that lends itself to their thematic prowess. While they're songs are specific, they're also universal in the sense that they are kind of encapsulations of small town life for young americans. I know that you aren't concerned with the lyrics and find the music boring though... and there's not much I can do about that. I find the songs have an athemic urgency that makes them compulsively listenable. As for the White Stripes, I like "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" but mostly I just find them gimmicky.

wouldn't it be weird if we ever agreed on a band? :)

They're just like Springsteen's first few records. Dull, bar band level rock with great lyrics, but nothing else even vaguely interesting. Except Springsteen had the song Born To Run...these guys don't have anything.

E Street Band was traditional...but they were tight. Tell me...have you given Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. a fair listen from back to front?

Yes I have. I'm just not a big fan of that style of music, to be honest.

Is your username a reference to Ornette Coleman?

Yeah. Is yours a reference to Joe Strummer, or just strummers in general?

'lil bit of both. I get it then. If you like Ornette Coleman, I guess your taste natural leans to more esoteric, "challenging" and experiemental sounds rather than traditional stuff with a populist slant like classic rock. That the case?

As a mod i'm allowed to verbally slap you in the face, now do you want me to verbally slap you in the face?

Not really. I like plenty of basic songs, as well as more complex challenging songs, but these guys just sort of bore me. I gave Boys And Girls In America another listen and thought Stuck Between Stations was good, but other than that nothing caught my ear.

No, but you can verbally slap me on the ass.:serious:

Ok...fair enough, I was just curious. Good call though. "Stuck Between Stations" is probably the major standout.

I'd just like to point out, you listen to Wolfmother.

Compared to The Hold Steady, Wolfmother is a sonic blast of rock and roll orgasm. And Woman is one of the best rock songs of 2006.

One of my favorite bands. Separation Sunday blows anything else from that year out of the water.

As far as Craig Finn bands go, I personally like Lifter Puller better than the Hold Steady.

Pitchfork: The New Hold Steady Album: Stay Positive

\m/

Stay Positive leaked. I doubt it can touch Boys and Girls in America but if its just as good as Lifter Puller I'll be happy.

Triple post wooo, possibly their worst album yet. None of the songs stick out like Stuck Between Stations and most of them are too slow which is a problem because it shows how limited Finn's voice particularly on Stay Positive. First few tracks were good and a few others in there I just wish it kept up that momentum throughout the album. Still it's Craig Finn so I can't hate it plus Constructive Summer is going to be one of my anthems of 08 I can tell already.

the hold steady's one of my favorites and even though theres nothing as good as "chip's hoy "you can make him like you" or "stuck between stations" stay positive is still great and constructive summer kicks ass

i love these guys.
boys and girls in america is a wonderful album, the lyrics are some of the better.

Finally some people who like these guys. Is it me, or does the Holdy Steady seem like a younger, more modern version of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band?

I just gave them a listen, and they're not horrible... but I don't think I'll listen again.

Their worst yet eh? Can't agree with you there, old friend. I think this album is loaded with solid tracks and better lyrics, and while it does not scale the heights of Boys & Girls, it is a worthy contender for second place within their discography.

They come across as a perfect hybrid of Replacements and Springsteen
What album to get after Boys And Girls In America?

I'm a fan! and they definitely do sound like The Replacements. That's actually how I got turned on to them cause I love The Replacements. And I have to agree with whats been said about Boys and Girls in America being a great album. If anyone is feeling on the edge I would recommend listening to "You Can Make Him Like You." It's my favorite.

New song: "Hurricane J"


I Love it already!! I can't wait for the new album, Heaven Is Whenever (Release date - May 3rd)

I feel like craig finn is singing to me.

Heaven Is Whenever is a fantastic album, it's less anthemic, more mellowed and relaxed, but it doesn't detract from it at all, Hurricane J and the Weekenders are early standouts, and this is the album in which Craig Finn gets closest to actually singing, and it's awesome.