The Hold Steady makes music especially to your order

One of the brightest and most original indie bands of the present days The Hold Steady was formed in New York and has managed to visit a lot of countries and taken an active part in various festivals during the five years of its existence. It is quite interesting that its vocalist Craig Finn has just recently started to take the vocal lessons for before the band's albums were a success even without that. Today he together with drummer Bobby Drake, lead guitarist Tad Kubler, keyboardist Franz Nicolay also playing harmonica and accordion and bassist Galen Polivka release already the fourth album called Stay Positive and its content fully corresponds to its title. Joyful, soulful, funny and serious songs have become the main component of this outstanding record. If you are looking for music for having a good time it looks like The Hold Steady has recorded Stay Positive especially to your order. These gay and sad, fast and slow, long and short songs are suitable for all life occasions. You are absolutely sure to remember this album for a long time and for many a listener it will become the favorite collection not only this summer but this year as well.

Stay Positive is listened at a breath

Stay Positive is different from the previous works with the appearance of new instruments like harpsichord for instance and Finn's even more contagious singing and of course all the tracks please with memorable sing-along choruses and interesting themes of love, losses, faith and such like. The album is listened at a breath and will hardly bore you even after ten times of listening. The record opens immediately in a loud, bright and energetic way with a song promising to become a hit Constructive Summer, refined with splendid piano chords as well as a bit calmer composition Sequestered in Memphis, also interesting for its humorous lyrics. Track One for the Cutters, pleases with the most complicated tune and is devoted to the problem of getting to know the world while Navy Sheets is remarkable for wonderful guitar hooks. A somewhat more relaxed sounding is on Lord, I'm Discouraged, a piece that rather reminds of a prayer and actually it is in a certain sense, whereas Yeah Sapphire once again returns us to the favorite rhythm of The Hold Steady. A banjo has refined song Both Crosses on a religious topic while the title track is probably one of the most memorable on the record and of course really filled with optimism. A joyful composition Joke About Jamaica has also refined the album with a changing rhythm and melody and the final song Slapped Actress proves to get the closest to hard rock closing the record on a little bit nostalgic note.

The most significant album in the quintet's history of existence

From the very first record of The Hold Steady, 2004's Almost Killed Me, Craig Finn has recommended himself as a talented story teller. The lyrics of the songs have become famous for being dense with information but today many agree that even if Finn was just reading a reference book it would sound interesting. Another remarkable feature of this collective unique in many respects is the members' endless sincerity: no matter how successful they are the guys never stop being happy and even surprised with each of their victories. Most probably Stay Positive will bring them more than one award for the band has really put out strength on it. As for the vocal parts they have definitely become more melodious as a result of Finn's lessons and it cannot help being noticed. An eclectic and strong album Stay Positive is so successful that it will probably prove the team's best work so far, and it is exactly what the front man says about it. To his mind the band is on the creative peak, so we are only left to make sure of that listening to this optimistic and stylish record. The musicians play flawlessly completing one another and possibly the new quality of the front man's vocals take The Hold Steady's work on a higher level so undoubtedly Stay Positive is the most significant album in the great quintet's short but eventful history of existence.

Alexandra Zachernovskaya
19.07.2008