Stay Positive

Writing this review I don't mean to sound judgemental or condecending, but I feel I must take a moment to vent my rage.

The Hold Steady are a band who along with many other great American artists(Richmond Fontaine and The National to name two) who are continually ignored by the general public in the UK.
This is the band's 4th album and I firmly beleive it to be their career high-point to date.

If you are yet to hear the dlights of Craig Finn and co, then let me take a second to discribe their sound.
Imagine if you will Bruce Springteens's E Street Band having grown up listening to 80's punk legends Husker Du and Fugazi, then decideing to bring in a poetic literate (much in the same vein as our own home-grown genius Mark E Smith) to bring the stories to their songs, and your somewhere near knowing what they sound like.

In the early part of the decade, 'The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me' was released to much critical acclaim from across the pond, and yet did'nt make so much as a rain drop in the puddle of hype left by The Strokes thunderstorm.

Non-detered the band ploughed on and released 'Seperation Sunday' in 2005, which again garnered huge praise by ou american cousins. But alas bands such as Coldplay and Snow Patrol bored their way into the public's record collection instead. *sigh*.

But again The Hold Steady continued to spread their sermon to the unwanting masses, and at the end of 2006 released the startling good record 'Boy's and Girl's in America'. But, you guessed it, the album was ignored in favour of such modern greats like Hard-Fi and The Kooks, who's legacy I'm sure will be talked about for years to come. (Apoligises to any American's reading this, but thats what you call 'being Ironic').

And so we come to 2008 and the band have once again decided to bring their gospel to this country's sorry music scene, and I implore each of you reading this review to make the effort to discover this seminal band before it's too late.
So instead of wasting your hard-earned money on the latest fashion statement (don't get me started on One Night Only) give this record a try, and y'know what ?, it might just change your life.

I'm sorry to any Hold Steady fans reading this who maybe wanted an opinion on the record itself, but I figured you already knew how truly special this band are, and were gonna buy it with or without my recommendation. So let's just be grateful Craig Finn has once again decided to bring the sermon to this unknowing (or un-caring) country.

And I'll see you on the front pew.

Hi this is just a quick review to let everyone know that this is really a great album. I was put off for 6 months by indifferent reviews. I bought the last album and was blown away, went to see them in Brum and they were awesome. I thne got the previous 2 cds seperation and almost killed me and they were soundablikes but not as good as 'america'. After the indifferent postings I thought I'd leave stay positive. What a dumbass! I was bored at the weekend couldnt find eanything else to get and bought this and I am so glad I did. It is a real grow full of the timeless lyrics that Finn is famed for and really thought provoking, especially in the current doom and gloom climate we really need to Stay Positive. A reall treasure, very uplifting. Wish I bought it in the Summer.

Caught this band when I went to see Counting Crows in Cardiff. They were BRILLIANT!! I'd never heard of them before, but after the concert, I got 2 of their albums and was just blown away by them. If you like your music raucous, loud, brash and bright, then this is the band for you. Killer lyrics and riffs mixed with crystal clear piano and crashing drums. What more do you need?