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Post by mhetrick14 on Apr 18, 2010 11:36:34 GMT -5
no guitar solo in 'we can get together' = criminal. it seems like the big guitar solo(s) are in a slight discomfort but i havent listened to the album yet nah, no solo there either. song is so rad though.
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 18, 2010 11:52:05 GMT -5
the solos are a nice addition to the live show, i'm totally fine with them being absent on the record. i am completely hooked on this record, i think it's incredible from start to finish.
i've also got to hand it to both the band and the label for keeping it from leaking this long. that never, ever happens anymore. and because of that, i got to have an experience i almost forgot about: waiting in line at a record store with anticipation, rushing in to get what i want, then hurrying home to throw it on the turntable to hear for the first time. well done.
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cre618
True Scene Leader
Posts: 714
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Post by cre618 on Apr 18, 2010 11:53:41 GMT -5
i've also got to hand it to both the band and the label for keeping it from leaking this long. that never, ever happens anymore. and because of that, i got to have an experience i almost forgot about: waiting in line at a record store with anticipation, rushing in to get what i want, then hurrying home to throw it on the turntable to hear for the first time. well done. I agree 100%. I didn't think that would ever happen again. I put on the headphones for listen number one last night. It was awesome.
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mcstevepants
Hoodrat
Shaky but still tryin' to shake it.
Posts: 400
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Post by mcstevepants on Apr 18, 2010 11:57:22 GMT -5
From the first time I heard "Constructive Summer," I knew it was one of my favorite songs the band had ever done, if not my #1. I don't get that feeling from any of these songs. Indeed. I now know what Craig meant when he said the album is less anthemic.
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bigontheinside
Midnight Hauler
If you don't know the words, don't sing along
Posts: 1,478
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Post by bigontheinside on Apr 18, 2010 12:01:50 GMT -5
One more thing: I was a bit underwhelmed by Stay Positive, also, and now I think it's my 2nd or 3rd favorite of the band's albums. The only difference: From the first time I heard "Constructive Summer," I knew it was one of my favorite songs the band had ever done, if not my #1. I don't get that feeling from any of these songs. Everyone seems to love Constructive Summer, but personally it's one of my least favourites off Stay Positive - maybe I over-listened to it or something, but I just find it a pretty typical THS song (not that that's a bad thing). For me, Barely Breathing gave me a 'holy-crap-this-is-so-awesome' moment the first time I heard it, and Our Whole Lives and Soft In The Center are sure to be awesome after hearing the live versions... But I haven't heard the full record yet.
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Post by howitfeels on Apr 18, 2010 12:12:40 GMT -5
80% of this album is the best work they've ever done.
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Post by Fine Malt Lyrics on Apr 18, 2010 12:22:06 GMT -5
I've had this cranked pretty much nonstop since I got back from the record store. I'm not ready to go wild just yet but I'll say this: I'm not sure there's a single song of the 10 that I'll wind up skipping. With the last 2 albums, the songs were hit or miss with me right away; I'm not getting that with HiW. Even better, some of this new stuff is really, really good. Not bad for a 5th (!!) album.
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gunner
Cityscape Skin
Posts: 12
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Post by gunner on Apr 18, 2010 12:24:57 GMT -5
I think Soft In The Center is the worst on this album. While it is the truth, the subject matter sounds a little too ....
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Post by howitfeels on Apr 18, 2010 12:35:20 GMT -5
I think Soft In The Center is the worst on this album. While it is the truth, the subject matter sounds a little too .... I disagree. I think ROCK PROBLEMS and Hurricane J are the weakest and could have been replaced by any B sides of your choice. I think "You're a beautiful girl and you're a pretty good waitress' is by far the worst lyric Craig has ever written. I cringe when I hear it. But then again it sounds much better in the context of the whole album then it does as a stand-alone single and the 'you were named for a storm/not a saint' line is wonderful. As you can tell, I'm torn. Our Whole Lives album version is superb. EDIT: I meant Rock Problems, not Weekenders. Weekenders is great.
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Post by doctoracula on Apr 18, 2010 12:39:08 GMT -5
the weekenders is one of my favorite hold steady songs right now the way craig leads into each chorus with "you could say our paths have crossed before" gives me chills
the "beautiful girl" line is great too, given the context. yeah, she's beautiful and pretty good, but he's not the one. it's like "lord i'm discouraged" from the other side. brilliant.
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Post by dhartley34 on Apr 18, 2010 12:54:31 GMT -5
I'm really really digging this. IMO, 2nd half is better than the first.
I love the shit out of Hurricane J, I can see why people wouldn't like it, but the last 30 seconds might be my single favorite part in any Hold Steady song.
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piske41
Cityscape Skin
Hey Nelson Algren
Posts: 9
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Post by piske41 on Apr 18, 2010 12:58:51 GMT -5
Our Whole Lives is a jam & a half. Amazing amazing amazing. It's up there with the classics IMO.
Really loving the album as a whole, just really great stuff. In my opinion:
Weakest tracks: Soft In The Center, Rock Problems Best tracks: The Sweet Part Of The City, The Smidge, Our Whole Lives
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Post by theblondette on Apr 18, 2010 12:59:35 GMT -5
jeallllloooooooooous zomg
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Post by mhetrick14 on Apr 18, 2010 13:00:15 GMT -5
the end of hurricane j is the tits.
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Post by st5801 on Apr 18, 2010 13:03:45 GMT -5
Finally "obtained" a copy of this. After one listen, I'm pretty much sold on the fact that this a great album. My only complaint is its only 10 tracks.
The Weekenders is definitely one of the best songs they've done. And the line "You're a beautiful girl and you're a pretty good waitress" in Hurricane J isn't a bad lyric, its classic Craig Finn...a cross between witty and cheesy. If you don't like a line like that, I don't know how you like anything they've done.
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Post by mja271 on Apr 18, 2010 13:03:49 GMT -5
80% of this album is the best work they've ever done. no...
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davew
Clever Kid
Posts: 90
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Post by davew on Apr 18, 2010 13:08:47 GMT -5
Well, its just finished... and i'm left with the same feeling that i get after i hear any album, nay song, by The Hold Steady for the first time... my head is spinning and i'm just eager to get back to the start, get in there again and root around. I've only been a fan since september last year but they have become my favourite band in the world... after the first listen, its great...i know its gonna take some time for the album to sink in but they have certainly not broken their stride and have pulled another corker out of the hat... excuse me, I'm going back to the Sweet Part of the City....i may be back once i feel a Slight Discomfort.
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Post by howitfeels on Apr 18, 2010 13:11:06 GMT -5
80% of this album is the best work they've ever done. no... yes...
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Post by mja271 on Apr 18, 2010 13:11:16 GMT -5
"you could say our paths have crossed before" I absolutely love the way he sings that line. One of my favorite parts of the album.
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Post by mja271 on Apr 18, 2010 13:12:05 GMT -5
It's good but that's a gross overstatement imo. That's the "newness" talking.
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mcstevepants
Hoodrat
Shaky but still tryin' to shake it.
Posts: 400
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Post by mcstevepants on Apr 18, 2010 13:12:13 GMT -5
I think "You're a beautiful girl and you're a pretty good waitress' is by far the worst lyric Craig has ever written. I cringe when I hear it. Our Whole Lives album version is superb. That line is much better than Our Whole Lives genius quote "ring ring ring goes the telephone".
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davew
Clever Kid
Posts: 90
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Post by davew on Apr 18, 2010 13:12:55 GMT -5
"we went out to get some more wi-ine!" - very exile, very cool.
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Post by cubbies4e on Apr 18, 2010 13:20:47 GMT -5
Woah, "The Sweet Part Of the City" is vintage Zeppelin. I love it!
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Post by howitfeels on Apr 18, 2010 13:21:07 GMT -5
It's good but that's a gross overstatement imo. That's the "newness" talking. I don't think its newness automatically disqualifies it from being the best either. Granted you may be right and I may just be on a first listen high. I think I already love it more than Stay Positive and I loved Stay Positive, I think it's more consistent than BAGIA, even with the two sub par tracks(that seem to being growing on me minute by minute). Although it doesn't have the peaks that Boys and Girls did Both Seperation Sunday and especially AKM seem to be sacred cows around here and people don't seem to even acknowledge the fact that this could be better. So far, I think a case could be made that it might be the best, which I wasn't expecting at all. I'm looking forward to everyone digesting it and seeing what the consensous is.
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whimrocker
Clever Kid
Not right, but wrong in a good way.
Posts: 63
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Post by whimrocker on Apr 18, 2010 13:22:25 GMT -5
I love this band. I'm just as excited for this album as I have been any other album. I love Barely Breathing, but I knew that already. I can't wait to listen to Our Whole Lives in my car. The line in The Weekenders "In the end, only the girls know the whole truth" makes me smile every single time. I don't have much critical to say, I'm pretty damn accepting of anything this good.
I guess I wish he didn't rhyme "I was way too fried" with the joy-inspiring Jim Carroll reference, but my love for this band has survived a handful of lame lyrics before.
I'm listening for the second time right now and I think I'm really going to love The Smidge, too. Like someone said before me, I don't think there's anything here I'm going to feel like skipping. I love this band.
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