The Hold Steady

Tiny Tim

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From the ashes of 90's Minneapolis indie legends Lifter Puller, singer Craig Finn and bassist turned guitarist Tad Kubler went to Brooklyn to form The Hold Steady. Reportedly they started planning the band after watching The Last Waltz and lamenting that their weren't any bands like The Band anymore. Of course, the result sounded nothing like The Band. I once described The Hold Steady to a friend as "The E Street Band fronted by Elvis Costello with Joe Perry on guitar". Craig Finn is probably his generations greatest lyricist (if not it's greatest singer:heheh:), every line is better than the last, and the last one was the best line you ever heard. So here's a quick walk though each of the records:

Almost Killed Me (2004) As with all Hold Steady records, this is a concept album, sort of. It several recurring themes such as near-death experiences, parties, a bar band and the fictional character Charlemagne.

The Swish



Barfruit Blues



Killer Parties (Fan Video)



back with more later....
 

Slip'nn2Darkness

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Egads!!! A boat load of Zoobies!!!!!! :tongue:
You know TT every once in awhile you pull out a band I like.. These guys I only heard of by name..
Now let's talk about "The Swish" lyrics...

pills and powders baby. powders and pills. we spent the night last night in beverly hills. there was this chick that looked like beverly sills. we got killed. tights and skirts baby. skirts and tights. we used to shake it up in shaker heights. there was this chick she looked like patty smythe. she seemed seemed shaky but nice.

she said my name is rick danko but people call me one-hour photo. i've got some hazardous chemicals. drive around to the window. she said my name is robbie robertson but people call me robo. i blew red white and blue right into a tissue. i came right over the counter just to kiss you.

ginger and jack and four or five feminax. psycho eyes and a stovepipe hat. a ray of light in white rayon slacks. we got cracked. shoes and socks baby. socks and shoes. we spent the night last night in newport news. this chick she looked just like elizabeth shue. we got bruised.

she said my name is steve perry but people call me circuit city. i'm so well connected. my upc is dialed into the system. she said my name's neil schon but some people call me nina simone. some people call me andre cymone. i've survived the 80s one time already. and i don't recall them all that fondly.

it was a blockbuster summer. moving pictures helped us get through to september. they made a movie about me and you. it was half nude and half true. it was a bloodsucking summer. i spent half the time trying to get paid from our savior. swishing though the city center. i did a couple favors for some guys who looked like tuscan raiders.



:wtf: Not so much a total deep thinker there.. But I give a thumbs up to the groove..
Never quite understood "The Look" these type of bands portrayed..
But I guess we all have our personal taste to enjoy what we like..
I would play them once in awhile...:cheers:
 

Soot and Stars

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I heard a big hype behind these guys when I had a subscription to Blender Magazine (loved that mag.). I never really looked into them but I like the sounds. The vocals are actually the best part IMO and I kind of agree with Thumper on the lyrics though but it just comes down to taste on that one. They are good at incorporating pop cultural references like a Family Guy episode but for someone like me who's favorite lyrics come from bands like SP it's two different worlds. Anyway, the vocals have a rough edge to them I like while still holding a melody. My favorite song sound wise is the last one, Killer Parties! Each one got a couple spins though! :grinthumb
 

Tiny Tim

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What exactly is a zoobie thumper? And who do you mean by SP Soot?
 

Soot and Stars

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What exactly is a zoobie thumper? And who do you mean by SP Soot?

Sorry Tiny Tim! :heheh: I meant Smashing Pumpkins. I figure I mention them so much I assumed an abbreviation would work. Laziness on my part. Basically, I was saying maybe the reason that I don't get into the lyrics as much, is for better or worse, I'm used to more metaphorical, ethereal, etc. lyrics coming from my favorite bands than clever, witty ones like The Hold Steady use.
 

Tiny Tim

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OK, that's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't Sex Pistols or Silversun Pickups.:heheh: Finn's lyrics are loaded with metaphores, the more you listen, the more unfolds, but I agree on first listen it sounds like some hipster nonsense.:****:
 

Soot and Stars

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OK, that's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't Sex Pistols or Silversun Pickups.:heheh: Finn's lyrics are loaded with metaphores, the more you listen, the more unfolds, but I agree on first listen it sounds like some hipster nonsense.:****:

That's why I think the last song worked for me most. It was a little different in that aspect from the first two. I thought this simple line actually was pretty clever at the same time:

If she says we partied then I'm pretty sure we partied.
I really don't remember.
I remember we departed from our bodies.
:grinthumb
 

Tiny Tim

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The Second album, Separation Sunday, tells the story of Holly (also known as Halleluiah), a sometimes addict, sometimes prostitute, sometimes born again Christian/Catholic, and her fall from grace, redemption and eventual disillusionment with that redemption. Finn's heavy use of religious imagery prompted Joe Gross of the Village Voice to call it "the most egregiously American Catholic album since X's Under the Big Black Sun, Springsteen's Tunnel of Love, or that Jewish new waver Billy Joel's The Stranger."

Hornets, Hornets



Little Hoodrat Friend



Stevie Nix



Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night (Fan Video)

 

Tiny Tim

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On 2006's Boys and Girls in America... Finn puts aside the linear narrative for a minute and employs a more big-picture approach, allowing listeners to fill details of their own lives into the songs rather than be required to commit fully to those of his characters. These stand alone story songs address more universal truths than the specifics of the first two records, but the lyrics are equally consise and biting. The music is a bit more varied and Finn makes an actual attempt to sing.

You Can Make Him Like You


Stuck Between Stations



Chillout Tent (Fan Video)



Chips Ahoy

 

Tiny Tim

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Never quite understood "The Look" these type of bands portrayed..
But I guess we all have our personal taste to enjoy what we like..

As I've never understood the whole prettyboy faux biker look employed by latter day hard rock bands.:confused:
 

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