how positive are you

new review from our friend The Observer:
There’s gonna come a time when you’re gonna have to listen to whoever is going to get you the highest, and since their 2004 debut Almost Killed Me, for many that’s meant listening to The Hold Steady. Stay Positive marks the band’s fourth full-length release, and with it they continue to impress. Expanding on their already substantial library of literary references, including lyrics from their own catalogue, its becoming obvious that Craig Finn will never run out of subject material to write about, nor will he ever rest with his continuing ability to turn a single night’s happenings into an epic narrative.

I must admit, however, that this album took a little getting used to on the first couple of listens. The band appears to be making the move from hook-driven structures overlaid with Finn’s seemingly sporadic bursts of story-telling to a more conventional cadence. Finns lyrics are beginning to find themselves more self-contained within each line as Tad Kubler’s guitar acts more as a device of depth and sincerity rather than an in-your-face mean of attack.

Perhaps the most discernable difference in The Hold Steady’s formula is evident on two of the albums tracks; the presence of Franz Nicolay’s keyboards takes on the new roll of providing over-the-top synth lines as the lead instead of the previously prevalent piano and organ. “One for the Cutters” is a shining example of Nicolay’s new sound, reminiscent of an late 80’s video game theme (I don’t really remember what Castlevania sounded like, but that’s the image that comes to mind). The synth line provides the backbone for one of Finn’s expertly constructed stories of a party gone wrong, with the subject witnessing a knife fight involving her crush, and ultimately trying to provide an alibi attesting his innocence. The song leaves you pondering “When a townie falls in the forest can anyone hear it?”

Stay Positive’s title track is an anthem to all that The Hold Steady stands for: kids going to shows, staying positive (I bet you didn’t see that one coming), and talking about “the scene.” This is achieved by making numerous references to their own career through phrases from past songs like “Positive Jam” from Almost Killed Me, “Hornets! Hornets!” off of 2005’s Separation Sunday, and “Massive Nights” from their last release, 2006’s Boys and Girls in America.

“Lord I’m Discouraged” introduces a southern-rock epic style to the band’s repertoire (a track that would have been better served by The Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood than “Navy Sheets” where he does appear). Nevertheless, the song is a powerful example of The Hold Steady’s ability to deliver simply moving work. The lyrics are full of loss and hopelessness, which are fortified by a phenomenal guitar solo by Kubler that seems to mourn along side Finns words.

The Hold Steady managed to produce another great album with Stay Positive. It is full of stylistic evolution, while at the same time holding on to the band’s gritty bar-rock roots. With all it has to offer, it will without a doubt keep their fans coming back for more while earning some new ones along the way.

mp3 shoebox

Hold Steady~Sequestered In Memphis
Hold Steady~Slapped Actress

Newly added tour dates:
08-01 San Diego, CA - Casbah
08-02 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre %
08-05 Dallas, TX - The Loft %
08-06 Austin, TX - The Parish %
08-07 Baton Rouge, LA - Chelsea's %
08-08 Oxford, MS - Proud Larry's %
08-09 Athens, GA - 40 Watt %
08-10 Charleston, SC - The Pourhouse %
08-12 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle %
08-13 Norfolk, VA - The Norva %
08-14 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club %
08-16 Chelmsford, England - Hylands Park (V Festival)
08-17 Staffordshire, England - Weston Park (V Festival)
09-29 Oxford, England - Academy
09-30 Manchester, England - Manchester University
10-01 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
10-02 Wolverhampton, England - Wulfrun Hall
10-04 Bristol, England - Anson Rooms
10-05 Nottingham, England - Rock City
10-06 Portsmouth, England - Pyramids
10-08 London, England - Roundhouse
10-09 Paris, France - Nouveau Casino
10-11 Hamburg, Germany - Knust
10-12 Cologne, Germany - Luxor
10-13 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
10-15 Oslo, Norway - Rockerfeller
10-16 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser Slussen
10-17 Goteborg, Sweden - Sticky Fingers
10-19 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
10-20 Berlin, Germany - Columbia Club
10-21 Vienna, Austria - WUK
10-22 Munich, Germany - Ampere

% with the Loved Ones