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The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever

  • 21-05-2010 8:35pm
    #1
    Placid_Casual
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 530 ✭✭✭


    With the plethora of excellent albums released in May, this one kind of slipped under the radar, so I thought i'd start a thread in its honour.
    My initial thoughts were the same as for Stay Positive i.e. hmmm, it sounds just like everything else they've done. But that initial perceived weakness is ultimately The Hold Steady's strength. They may only really do one thing but, by god, they do it well.
    The bottom line is, the quality doesn't drop. Heaven Is Whenever may not be quite as good as Boys & Girls In America or Stay Positive but its close enough to keep me happy. Highlights for me are The Weekenders, We Can Get Together and A Slight Discomfort, which I reckon is the finest closing track they've ever had.


Comments

  • #2
    Amazotheamazing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,048 ✭✭✭Amazotheamazing


    Actually think it's a good bit better than Stay Positive, which had some amazing songs and some filler. I don't think they'll ever top Boys and Girls in America though.

    Anyhow, on the album itself, Rock Problems, the Smidge (so good a song I can get over it's name) and of course, Our Whole Lives are soundtracks to my summer so far anyway. Not sure what possessed them to release Hurricane J as the lead single though, it's radio friendly but one of the weaker tracks on the album.


  • #3
    johnny_ultimate
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,277 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    Yeah was prepared for some mediocrity after hearing initial feedback from people, but it's as solid as Stay Positive for sure. I'd agree that there is little to differentiate it from their earlier stuff (the lack of invention seems to be what's annoyed some reviewers) but there are a couple of typically lively, compelling rock songs here, which is what the band really do best. Can't stop listening to the Weekenders, although there are plenty of other great songs like Rock Problems and Hurricane J (which I like, although it seems to end just as it's reached the climax, which is a shame). Like all their albums I've heard, some songs just tend to blend into each other, but the highlights are typically good fun.


  • #4
    PaulieC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,196 ✭✭✭PaulieC


    The Weekenders suffers a bit in my opinion by sounding a bit like a Kings of Leon song at the start :o

    I would say it's kind of typical Hold Steady, but maybe a bit more mature ? It certainly has that usual wonderful quality that 90% of their songs have, the ability to make you feel nostalgiac. I love the opening track, the sound is a bit of a departure


  • #5
    Amazotheamazing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,048 ✭✭✭Amazotheamazing


    Good article from Craig Finn explaining the song We Can Get Together, really makes more sense of what he was thinking whyen he wrote it. "he wasn't just the drummer, he was someone's younger brother" becomes a very powerful line when you think about it.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/may/27/heavenly-space-manatee-mathew-fletcher


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