The Hold Steady – Stay Positive

The Hold Steady came to the forefront of the underground two years ago with their breakout album Boys and Girls in America. There was something within the talk-sing vocal delivery of Craig Finn perfectly layered over the piano-rock tunes that just jumped at you. It’s not like they came out of nowhere either as they had released two records in the previous two years, Almost Killed Me and Separation Sundaybut it was Boys and Girls in America that really struck home with the listeners. It made the anticipation for their follow-up quite high, so much so that once it leaked a month early the label just decided to release it early too.

But does Stay Positive live up to its high expectations set forth to it from its predecessors? For the most part, yes; but there were a few distinct differences.The main difference comes in the production of the album because even though the music at its core is definitely still The Hold Steady, Stay Positive has a very different tone to it then anything the band has done before. It’s an odd sensation since the same producer, John Agnello, sat behind the knobs for both records but the production has still changed drastically. Stay Positive suffers from a slight muffled feeling as nothing – from Finn’s vocals to the clash of the cymbals – sounds as crisp as it did on Boys and Girls. Once you get past the pounding opener, the record sound mores like a wall of sound than a collection of different instruments. For the rock oriented tracks, such as Constructive Summer or Stay Positive, it doesn’t make much of a difference but it does hinder some of the slower songs like Lord, I’m Discouraged or Both Crosses who aren’t able to hit as much as home as hard as The Chillout Tent or First Night did before.

Once you get past the production hiccup Stay Positive fulfills all expectations. There’s still that classic rock and roll vibe being spat out by a drunken bar band that you just love so much. There is a sense of americana being delivered through Finn’s signature vocals that is simultaneously intricate and intimate; and the band once again alternates from hard rock tunes like Sequestered In Memphis and slower, piano driven ballads like Yeah, Sapphire with Magazines carefully breaching the gap between the two tempos. It makes for a diverse record that flows rather well and keeps your interest the entire way through.

However, the real gem of The Hold Steady has always been Finn’s lyrical folk tales. The songs are sung with a smug satisfaction, are intelligent, memorable and covered with layered meanings. He constantly nods his heads towards some of his idols as he name drops everyone from Iggy Pop and Joe Strummer to Youth of Today and 7 Seconds all the while telling stories of sex, adventures, love and religion. It takes a few listens for the full meaning of the lyrics to sink in, particularly as you start to realize their connected tie-ins to former Hold Steady tunes. Old characters such as Holly, Charlemagne, Gideon, Craig and Judas all make reappearances and he makes direct references to Massive Nights and being crown the king and the queen again too. With each listen you hear another added layer of meaning within the song which just helps amplify’s Finn’s lyrical genius.

Sadly I don’t believe Stay Positive will have as big an impact as Boys and Girls In America did – particularly since three of the best songs on the record are actually the three bonus tracks – however Stay Positive still has its endearing qualities and there’s enough of them to keep the listener coming back for more.