The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

They used to call this ‘balls to the wall rock ‘n’ roll’, you know. Not heard since the hey-day of Mr Springsteen, The Hold Steady are bringing intelligent, literate, blue-collar rock back to the mainstream. Guitars play gutsy riffs, raw, powerful lyrics are spat out like they’re going out of fashion, and fists are pumped into the air.

Boys And Girls In America was the Hold Steady’s ‘break-through’ album, bringing them from ‘relative’ obscurity to ‘relative’ fame, and little has changed on Stay Positive, with Craig Finn and company opting for more of the same, pouring forth more passion and soul, imploring anyone with a heart to come along for the ride.

Whilst the riffs are all in place, and the music – let’s be honest – kicks ass, the real litmus test is in the lyrics, for The Hold Steady is a ‘song’ band, powered by the words and obsessions of Craig Finn. And he doesn’t let us down here, screaming about all manner of subjects. “Excuses and half-truths and fortified wine,” rages Finn, and it’s hard for anyone not to know how he feels.

It seems preposterous to say, but if you like rock ‘n’ roll, you’ll love the Hold Steady. They have no unique selling points, no hook to hang themselves on, and in these gimmicky, style-obsessed times, that’s enough to have people flocking to them like moths to a flame. And on the evidence of Stay Positive, they won’t be disappointed. Steven Rainey

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DOWNLOAD: ‘SEQUESTERED IN MEMPHIS’, ‘LORD, I’M DISCOURAGED’.
FOR FANS OF: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, AMERICAN MUSIC CLUB.

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.