The Hold Steady's Latest Streaming on MySpace

By on Jun 12, 2008 in Music | 4 Comments

The best-reviewed band of the past ten years, The Hold Steady, has a new album coming out next week, but you lucky folks can hear the whole thing right now on MySpace. It’s called Stay Positive and it sounds quite fabulous.

Back in 2004, I called the band an “acquired taste,” but their sound has grown richer and the production on this album and their last — the breakthrough Boys and Girls in America — was top-notch, so they’re much more accessible to the common man, especially to those classic rock relics who miss The Who and early Springsteen with the big bold pianos, horns and the colorful storytelling. Craig Finn has the storytelling part down cold, that brother can spin a beer-soaked yarn like no other.

Finn also has a great sense of humor and is completely devoid of the rock star arrogance we’ve grown to expect from many a heraded front man.

I’m on my second listen now and this is easily the best thing I’ve heard all year: insanely rocking tunes mixed with some long-burners that have that epic “Greetings From Asbury Park” vibe. Wow! A while back I heard reports that Ben Nichols from Lucero would be making a guest appearance and If I’m not mistaken I think that’s him blasting out some backing vocals on the my two favorite tracks “Magazines” and “Constructive Summer” (I feel some Husker Du “Celebrated Summer” vibe here, Finn is a huge fan). Nice Ben, now finish your own CD. FYI, Lucero rules.

Every fan will tell you The Hold Steady is best heard in a bar. I think those days are over, these guys will be bigger than ever after this thing drops. So in honor, pop in few bucks in your local bar’s jukebox and play the whole thing. Twice. Then drink a lot of beers, Craig would approve.

Here’s a great video, “Chips’ Ahoy,” from there last offering:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=OCZB3nSoNbU[/youtube]

And a classic, “The Swish,” that still had some of the punk edge form Finn’s Lifter Puller days:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=i-0fb-DhYh0[/youtube]

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  • http://www.websheriff.com/ WEBSHERIFF

    WEB SHERIFF
    Protecting Your Rights on the Internet
    Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
    Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
    websheriff@websheriff.com
    http://www.websheriff.com

    H Jeff,

    On behalf of Rough Trade / Beggars Digital, Vagrant and The Hold Steady, many thanks for plugging “Stay Positive” (street date 14th July and advance, digital release date 9th June) … .. thanks, also, on behalf of the label and the band for not posting any pirate links to unreleased (studio) material and, if your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, “Sequestered in Memphis” is available for fans and bloggers to stream / link to / post etc on the band’s MySpace … .. check-out http://www.myspace.com/theholdsteady and http://www.theholdsteady.com for details on “Stay Positive” and the band’s 2008 shows … .. for a limited period a play-through of “Stay Positive” shall also be available on the band’s MySpace (as already featured on your site) and on NME (http://www.nme.com), although these are for promotional purposes only and the artist and labels have kindly asked fans and bloggers not to host or link to pirate copies of the full album on-line – for which many thanks in advance.

    Thanks again for your plug.

    Regards,

    WEB SHERIFF

  • http://www.websheriff.com WEBSHERIFF

    WEB SHERIFF
    Protecting Your Rights on the Internet
    Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
    Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
    websheriff@websheriff.com
    http://www.websheriff.com

    H Jeff,

    On behalf of Rough Trade / Beggars Digital, Vagrant and The Hold Steady, many thanks for plugging “Stay Positive” (street date 14th July and advance, digital release date 9th June) … .. thanks, also, on behalf of the label and the band for not posting any pirate links to unreleased (studio) material and, if your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, “Sequestered in Memphis” is available for fans and bloggers to stream / link to / post etc on the band’s MySpace … .. check-out http://www.myspace.com/theholdsteady and http://www.theholdsteady.com for details on “Stay Positive” and the band’s 2008 shows … .. for a limited period a play-through of “Stay Positive” shall also be available on the band’s MySpace (as already featured on your site) and on NME (http://www.nme.com), although these are for promotional purposes only and the artist and labels have kindly asked fans and bloggers not to host or link to pirate copies of the full album on-line – for which many thanks in advance.

    Thanks again for your plug.

    Regards,

    WEB SHERIFF

  • http://www.michelemelcher.com/ Michele Melcher

    Whoo hoo!

  • http://www.michelemelcher.com Michele Melcher

    Whoo hoo!