THS - Reviews

The Hold Steady - some of the UK reviews


The Guardian (4/5)
At times, the bloodlust in Craig Finn's growl gets too thirsty. But it's the album's closing lyric - "Man, we make our own movies" - that reveals the secret of this band's special powers. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2289926,00.html

The Times (3/5) remain less convinced by THS - There is a truth that Finn and Co often hit the sauce but for me, the Scala gig last year was where the music suffered most not the Borderline, which was a fantastic gig.

"Everything about the way they play - especially on the rickety uplift of Yeah Sapphire, Magazines and Sequestered in Memphis - invites you to see them as the E Street Band to Finn's Springsteen, so much so that it would be obtuse to resist. As with the E Street Band, instruments are identifiable, but only as the chunks in their dense sonic tiffin. That's the best thing about the Hold Steady."

On Finn's talent "If he isn't careful, these songs will become consolation prizes doled out to recipients that he may, in time, come to despise."

NME (9/10) meanwhile proclaim "This is a record, and indeed a band, that doesn't simply want to entertain, but to make the lives of its listeners better" and stated that 'Stay Positive' not only confirms The Hold Steady's status as one of the best rock'n'roll bands in the world, but establishes them as one of its most important too. Frankly, album five can't come soon enough."Despite this, reviewer, James McMahon, says the albums low point where the band's "impeccable standards drop", is on what i think is one the album's best cuts - 'Sequestered In Memphis'

The Daily Mirror's reviewer (3/5) says that "Slashing guitars, air-punching choruses and lyrical piano passages are all familiar, but the dazed ballad Lord, I'm Discouraged stands out from the energetic, blustery whole."