Stay Positive
by: The Hold Steady
List Price: $13.98
Prices subject to change.
Price: $10.99
You Save: $2.99 (21%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Amazon.co.uk:
The Hold Steady's ascent and eventual breakthrough with 2006's Boys & Girls in America was never pre-ordained. If anything they did it without the tastemakers' consent. Their shtick is old-fashioned through and through, beginning with Thin Lizzy and ending with Bruce Springsteen, performed by men advanced enough to have experienced those touchstones first or second hand. And look at them--not exactly The Strokes, are they? But it was precisely their enthusiastic unoriginality, the fact that the clichés were piled on so thick and so fast, that they triumphed. And placed next to that unapologetically feel good record, that Stay Positive sounds so immediately brighter and more muscular is undoubtedly a great sign. Production is really cranked up--see the horns wedged into "Sequestered in Memphis", the REM mandolin texturing of "Both Crosses" and the surprising harpsichord flagrancy of "One for the Cutters". They're clearly determined to not be so easily pegged this time around, though admittedly they never exactly go that far off-piste. "Our songs are sing-along songs," announced Craig Finn semi-helpfully, and though the spirit is right, with such a conversational lyrical style that is rarely the case. It's more about the rock gestures and knowing when to punch the air. And there are instances aplenty, from the Pete Townsend-esque windmill power-chords in "Constructive Summer", to the overblown solo in "Lord I'm Discouraged" that is so "November Rain" it's practically going through Stephanie Seymour's trash (those not watching MTV in the mid-90s, hit Youtube). --James Berry
Product Description:
Limited edition packaging (50,000) includes 3 bonus tracks:
Bonus Tracks
1.Ask Her for Adderall
2.Cheyenne Sunrise
3. Two Handed Handshake
Album Description:
Stay Positive is the fourth studio album from The Hold Steady and follows their hugely popular 2006 release Girls And Boys In America. Working once again with producer John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.), the album sees the band continue in the same direction their previous release took them, mixing classic bar-room style Rock with Craig Finn's half spoken/half sung lyrical tales of drinking, partying and love. Features the single 'Sequestered In Memphis'.
The Hold Steady's ascent and eventual breakthrough with 2006's Boys & Girls in America was never pre-ordained. If anything they did it without the tastemakers' consent. Their shtick is old-fashioned through and through, beginning with Thin Lizzy and ending with Bruce Springsteen, performed by men advanced enough to have experienced those touchstones first or second hand. And look at them--not exactly The Strokes, are they? But it was precisely their enthusiastic unoriginality, the fact that the clichés were piled on so thick and so fast, that they triumphed. And placed next to that unapologetically feel good record, that Stay Positive sounds so immediately brighter and more muscular is undoubtedly a great sign. Production is really cranked up--see the horns wedged into "Sequestered in Memphis", the REM mandolin texturing of "Both Crosses" and the surprising harpsichord flagrancy of "One for the Cutters". They're clearly determined to not be so easily pegged this time around, though admittedly they never exactly go that far off-piste. "Our songs are sing-along songs," announced Craig Finn semi-helpfully, and though the spirit is right, with such a conversational lyrical style that is rarely the case. It's more about the rock gestures and knowing when to punch the air. And there are instances aplenty, from the Pete Townsend-esque windmill power-chords in "Constructive Summer", to the overblown solo in "Lord I'm Discouraged" that is so "November Rain" it's practically going through Stephanie Seymour's trash (those not watching MTV in the mid-90s, hit Youtube). --James Berry
Product Description:
Limited edition packaging (50,000) includes 3 bonus tracks:
Bonus Tracks
1.Ask Her for Adderall
2.Cheyenne Sunrise
3. Two Handed Handshake
Album Description:
Stay Positive is the fourth studio album from The Hold Steady and follows their hugely popular 2006 release Girls And Boys In America. Working once again with producer John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.), the album sees the band continue in the same direction their previous release took them, mixing classic bar-room style Rock with Craig Finn's half spoken/half sung lyrical tales of drinking, partying and love. Features the single 'Sequestered In Memphis'.
Disc 1:
Browse for similar items by category:
- Music » Styles » Alternative Rock » General
- Music » Styles » Alternative Rock » Indie & Lo-Fi » Indie Rock
- Music » Styles » Classic Rock » General
- Music » Styles » Pop » General
- Music » Styles » Rock » General
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- They'll always have Boys and Girls in America
After the major leap forward that Boys and Girls in America was, The Hold Steady stood a pretty good chance of having me completely forgive them for their first two albums. Perhaps singer/songwriter Craig Finn's Catholic Church would have required him to confess the musical sins of his past, but I would simply ask that he make another record comparable in quality to their third one. Unfortunately, their fourth album - Stay Positive - doesn't quite scale such grand heights.
On Boys and ... Read More
Rating: - Stay Postive People
When I first heard the The Hold Steady, I didn't get them.I could not get past Craig Finn's vocals and the simple regurgitation of rock and roll cliches.So I figured they were trying to trick me. Why would a band in the new century just play straight ahead rock music?I had to be missing something and that annoyed me.
Included in this recording you should know: There isn't any tricky production.There isn't soci-political statements being tossed up as enlightened dogma.
... Read More
Rating: 
- Eggsellent!
Well, after a suggestion from a friend I downloaded this album from amazon and it has gotten almost 'round the clock airtime since. I have also gotten BAGIA and SS and the band's germination has culminated in Stay Positive. My best album of '08. I only wish I could see them with DBT this fall...
Rating: - you can only believe the hype
Stay Positive, when compared to the previous releases of THS, does have a feeling of a smirking smile, even in the midst of the subject matter. Everything from (dare I say) Springsteen style epic rock ballads and subject matter, to beat poetry and phenomenal lyrical story telling.
I've read that Craig Finn has indicated that he sings about the specific to describe the general"- and he does it quite well. Often times, its a bit didactic, hes repeating the same lines which didn't need underlining ... Read More
Rating: - Hold Steady still delievers gems
To be honest, I have a love affair with the Hold Steady.Their songs, although growers, are such great stories of life, friendship (and drinking).To me "Stay Positive" is definitely a grower-type album. It starts off SO strong with "Constructive Summer" and"Sequestered in Memphis" and then kind of drops off for "One for the Cutters" and "Navy Sheets."But the album comes back strong (but soft) during "Lord, I'm Discouraged."After that ballad (which is kind of acts the same way "Citrius" did on "Boys and ... Read More
- They'll always have Boys and Girls in AmericaAfter the major leap forward that Boys and Girls in America was, The Hold Steady stood a pretty good chance of having me completely forgive them for their first two albums. Perhaps singer/songwriter Craig Finn's Catholic Church would have required him to confess the musical sins of his past, but I would simply ask that he make another record comparable in quality to their third one. Unfortunately, their fourth album - Stay Positive - doesn't quite scale such grand heights.
On Boys and ... Read More
- Stay Postive PeopleWhen I first heard the The Hold Steady, I didn't get them.I could not get past Craig Finn's vocals and the simple regurgitation of rock and roll cliches.So I figured they were trying to trick me. Why would a band in the new century just play straight ahead rock music?I had to be missing something and that annoyed me.
Included in this recording you should know: There isn't any tricky production.There isn't soci-political statements being tossed up as enlightened dogma.
... Read More
- Eggsellent!Well, after a suggestion from a friend I downloaded this album from amazon and it has gotten almost 'round the clock airtime since. I have also gotten BAGIA and SS and the band's germination has culminated in Stay Positive. My best album of '08. I only wish I could see them with DBT this fall...
- you can only believe the hypeStay Positive, when compared to the previous releases of THS, does have a feeling of a smirking smile, even in the midst of the subject matter. Everything from (dare I say) Springsteen style epic rock ballads and subject matter, to beat poetry and phenomenal lyrical story telling.
I've read that Craig Finn has indicated that he sings about the specific to describe the general"- and he does it quite well. Often times, its a bit didactic, hes repeating the same lines which didn't need underlining ... Read More
- Hold Steady still delievers gemsTo be honest, I have a love affair with the Hold Steady.Their songs, although growers, are such great stories of life, friendship (and drinking).To me "Stay Positive" is definitely a grower-type album. It starts off SO strong with "Constructive Summer" and"Sequestered in Memphis" and then kind of drops off for "One for the Cutters" and "Navy Sheets."But the album comes back strong (but soft) during "Lord, I'm Discouraged."After that ballad (which is kind of acts the same way "Citrius" did on "Boys and ... Read More
