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Post by Andy on Mar 11, 2014 12:38:50 GMT -5
Stereogum listed one writer's opinion of the 10 best Hold Steady songs. www.stereogum.com/1668603/the-10-best-hold-steady-songs/list/Full list:10 - Atlantic City 09 - Sequestered In Memphis 08 - I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You 07 - South Town Girls 06 - Killer Parties 05 - How A Resurrection Really Feels 04 - Hot Soft Light 03 - One For The Cutters 02 - Your Little Hoodrat Friend 01 - Stuck Between Stations  |
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the sea
Cityscape Skin
The artist formally known as 'the river'.
Posts: 31
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Post by the sea on Mar 11, 2014 13:09:04 GMT -5
Someone should point out that Atlantic City is actually a direct cover of a live version which Springsteen has done for years.
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Post by doctoracula on Mar 11, 2014 13:11:23 GMT -5
eh, could be better, could be worse. the first few paragraphs really reminded me how much i dislike that sect of rock music (except for THS, obviously). having a cover on the list is silly. as is leaving off anything from HIW.
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 11, 2014 13:39:15 GMT -5
Someone should point out that Atlantic City is actually a direct cover of a live version which Springsteen has done for years. I had NO idea this was the case - I assumed Franz arranged the sax part. Thanks for pointing this out. Still a great cover. |
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dabook
True Scene Leader
Posts: 520 
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Post by dabook on Mar 11, 2014 14:05:15 GMT -5
I like American Music better.
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Post by dustinthespotlights on Mar 11, 2014 14:05:39 GMT -5
I think what's blowing my mind most about this is how someone could choose "I hope this whole thing" over "Spinners" in terms of Teeth Dreams singles. Not even sure "Spinners" (as good as it is) belongs in a Top 10 THS list, but "I hope this whole thing" definitely doesn't, IMO.
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the sea
Cityscape Skin
The artist formally known as 'the river'.
Posts: 31
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Post by the sea on Mar 11, 2014 14:06:12 GMT -5
The melody composition in Come Crawl Out Your Window is second-to-none, too.
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Post by doctoracula on Mar 11, 2014 14:07:48 GMT -5
they really captured a specific mood in "take me out to the ball game"
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dabook
True Scene Leader
Posts: 520
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Post by dabook on Mar 11, 2014 16:02:22 GMT -5
God ...this is a take no prisoners bunch...hey,hey what can I do?
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thurman
Sniffling Indie Kid
Posts: 199
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Post by thurman on Mar 11, 2014 18:36:54 GMT -5
His list lost all credibility since nothing from RAGS was on it.
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 11, 2014 18:57:10 GMT -5
Finally a comments section worth reading.
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Post by muzzleofbees on Mar 12, 2014 3:13:35 GMT -5
I think what's blowing my mind most about this is how someone could choose "I hope this whole thing" over "Spinners" in terms of Teeth Dreams singles. Not even sure "Spinners" (as good as it is) belongs in a Top 10 THS list, but "I hope this whole thing" definitely doesn't, IMO. I agree. Wouldn't put Spinners in my top 10 (yet), but Frighten... is way off. Good song, but there are a lot of better ones. Atlantic City is obviously a strange choice. One For The Cutters as well (even though I can see why some would love it). And I can't really understand the logic of leaving out Heaven Is Whenever songs. It seems like they made some sort of principal thing out of it, which is weird. Sweet Part Of The City and Our Whole Lives would have been contenders for a list like this to me. Just the fact that Stereogum chose to do a story about Hold Steady in advance of the new album, made me happy. Momentum is building, and it really helps that the kind of hip and indie oriented sites also talks about Teeth Dreams. And I'm really glad they got the top two "right". Stuck Between Stations will always be my favourite, and Hoodrat is such a great song to symbolize a lot of what Hold Steady is all about. It also makes sense to include Hot Soft Light, Killer Parties and Resurrection. I find it a bit strange that they didn't choose Chips Ahoy. To me, it would have been a obvious choice for Stereogum in general, and even more so after the introduction. |
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Post by mja271 on Mar 12, 2014 9:44:41 GMT -5
I don't love his list, but I see nothing wrong with the omission of any HiW songs. It's their weakest album, and while I do really enjoy a handful of the songs on there, I don't think he's alone in thinking none would crack the top 10. But to me that's more of a testament to the strength of their whole catalog than a knock on the quality of those songs.
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Post by doctoracula on Mar 12, 2014 9:54:48 GMT -5
I disagree that its their weakest album. I think it's an easy one to write off, what with Franz's departure and it being a bit uneven, but there's some gold on that LP. I'd rank Hurricane J, Weekenders, and A Slight Discomfort among their best songs
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Post by mja271 on Mar 12, 2014 10:00:54 GMT -5
I don't think it's bad, but out of the 5 they put out, to me it's clearly at the bottom of the list. At least from a studio perspective. I think the songs are considerably better in the live setting. But obviously to each his own. I just can't wait for the new album. 4 years between records has been a killer wait!
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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 Mar 12, 2014 12:30:33 GMT -5
I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You > Spinners > Sequestered In Memphis.
*hides in corner*
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 12, 2014 12:56:21 GMT -5
IMO, Heaven is Whenever is their most poorly produced album to date (those guitars sound crunchy and processed). It also lacks the cohesive feeling of each of their first four albums. But I think most of the songs are still high quality. I put Weekenders and Slight Discomfort up there with any of the band's best work. I also love Sweet Part, Smidge, Hurricane J, and Our Whole Lives. Soft in the Center and Rock Problems are two of the weakest songs in the THS catalogue... but every album has a song or two that I'm not crazy about, except for BAGIA (Sketchy Metal, Charlemagne in Sweatpants, Joke About Jamaica).
HiW definitely has a quirky, transitional sound. A good example are those weird reverb-y piano lines during the Rock Problems choruses, which are the ultimate "Franz left, we're supposed to have piano here, right?" moments on the record. It's an album that sounds like the band passing through to the otherside. Teeth Dreams is going to be that otherside.
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Post by doctoracula on Mar 12, 2014 13:28:35 GMT -5
Honestly, BAGIA has the most songs I skip. I think its got some of the highest highs of their career, but plenty of filler too. I realize I'm usually alone on this though haha
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Post by farmsandhearts on Mar 12, 2014 17:07:10 GMT -5
here's where i am at the moment.
1. constructive summer
2. first night
3. lord, i'm discouraged
4. arms & hearts
5. resurrection
6. certain songs
7. stuck between stations
8. spectres
9. killer parties
10. knuckles
i really love 'spinners,' but i haven't known it long enough to make that kind of commitment.
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I'M THAT GUY!
Sniffling Indie Kid
Heartbreak hurts, but you can dance it off.
Posts: 150
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Post by I'M THAT GUY! on Mar 12, 2014 21:16:46 GMT -5
Fine. I'll say it. Power of Love That track delighted a huge spectrum of fans, running the gamut all the way from Jersey Mike to Mike van Jura. Did you know it fucking HURTS to blow beer out your nose? |
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I'M THAT GUY!
Sniffling Indie Kid
Heartbreak hurts, but you can dance it off.
Posts: 150
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Post by I'M THAT GUY! on Mar 12, 2014 21:20:23 GMT -5
Also, just to add to the conversation, I agree that HiW is the least good of the albums. They hadn't filled the Franz hole.
However: some of those songs - hurricane j, the smidge, rock problems- are among the strongest songs live. I wish HiW had been recorded live.
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I'M THAT GUY!
Sniffling Indie Kid
Heartbreak hurts, but you can dance it off.
Posts: 150
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Post by I'M THAT GUY! on Mar 13, 2014 13:07:25 GMT -5
Did you know it fucking HURTS to blow beer out your nose? As a staunch advocate of wordwide temperance, I most certainly do not. And, if I cannot, by appealing to your rational thought, dissuade you from engaging in the fruitless chase for the ever quicker buzz, might I just demonstrate for you the sad effects of the nasal spittake: theholdsteady.proboards.com/thread/63/drunken-thoughts-thread?page=15 are you referring to the drunk thoughts thread as a whole, or just my post? Because wind is CLEARLY just god farting. |
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