The Hold Steady - Almost Killed Me / Separation Sunday

Full Time Hobby

Only four months since their official UK debut release (of their phenomenal third record, ‘Boys And Girls In America’), comes the inevitable revisitation of The Hold Steady back catalogue, which until now was only available on these shores via import.

Debut album ‘Almost Killed Me’ is the stronger of the pair. It’s difficult to discern exactly why as ‘Separation Sunday’ is characterised by the same wordy bar band rock but somehow, their opening dispatch to the world brims with the bigger tunes and more memorable hooks.

As we already know, Craig Finn gobbles up library books like a fat kid let loose in a sweet shop but on these albums he’s even more voracious than on the band’s most recent outing. As he almost struggles to keep up with himself, Finn excitedly spits out his killer couplets, both literary and universal. As we’ve also come to expect, the band are a jungle fire of blaring horns, wild beast riffs and runaway rhythms.

As a history lesson these reissues are perfect at charting The Hold Steady’s progression from indie-hopefuls with ideas to spare, to potential crossover masters of the unifying classic rock anthem they are today. Here’s hoping there’s much more where this came from.

Words_David McLaughlin

ALMOST KILLED ME:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SEPARATION SUNDAY:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DOWNLOAD: ‘The Swish’, ‘Certain Songs’, ‘Hornets! Hornets!’
FOR FANS OF: Hüsker Dü, Lucero, Bruce Springsteen

Issue #52 - Very Bro-some

Featuring Panama Kings, ASIWYFA, an investigation into DIY touring, details of what over 25 of the finest NI bands are up to in 2009 and much more.