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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 22, 2014 16:45:13 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 22, 2014 16:45:44 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 22, 2014 16:47:09 GMT -5
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robs
Hoodrat
Posts: 297
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Post by robs on Mar 23, 2014 8:17:23 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 24, 2014 2:22:16 GMT -5
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Post by reallystickyglue on Mar 24, 2014 3:38:34 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 24, 2014 3:47:38 GMT -5
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Post by muzzleofbees on Mar 24, 2014 4:01:16 GMT -5
The norwegian edition of Gaffa: 4/6 (http://gaffa.com/anmeldelse/82371)
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 24, 2014 10:06:28 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 24, 2014 10:08:15 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 24, 2014 16:08:07 GMT -5
Once again, AllMusic nails it:
4/5 stars
On their last album, 2010's Heaven Is Whenever, the Hold Steady felt like a band in a state of transition as they found their footing after parting ways with Franz Nicolay. On Teeth Dreams, it feels as though the Brooklyn band have spent the intervening time finding their way, returning with a refreshed sound for their sixth album. Added to the ranks is former Lucero guitarist Steve Selvidge, who joined up with the band as a touring guitarist before eventually settling in as a full-fledged member. The interplay between Selvidge and Tad Kubler adds an interesting new dimension to the Hold Steady's, with Memphis-style Southern rock colliding with Midwestern guitar heroics to create a beautiful blend of plaintiveness and drive. Musically, the album feels like the more rockin' sibling to singer Craig Finn's solo album, Clear Heart Full Eyes -- where the verbose vocalist explored a looser, country-inspired vibe -- than a follow-up to their wintry fifth album. With two guitarists in play, the album has an all-around warmer sound, as there is hardly a moment that isn't expertly filled in by these two expert axe-men. While Kubler is far from a slouch on his own, the differences in playing style between him and Selvidge lend the songs here a lot more depth. This means the band can open things rather than always going for the throat with a searing riff, making Teeth Dreams an album that rocks while still feeling laid-back. This new direction is one that suits the band well, and although it may seem like they've put their bar rock days in their rear view mirror, it's seems pretty clear that the band is heading toward a big, arena rock future.
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 25, 2014 0:09:34 GMT -5
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jc
Cityscape Skin
Posts: 22
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Post by jc on Mar 25, 2014 0:25:23 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 25, 2014 10:36:08 GMT -5
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Post by infinitejest on Mar 25, 2014 11:17:27 GMT -5
I had a similar reaction to the lyrics when I read them, before I heard the record. Now, things have changed. I unabashedly think Craig Finn is one of America's greatest literary talents. This is a body of work that deserves the same respect major American writers of the last 50-odd years have gotten. It's smart and intelligent and creative in ways most fiction and poetry isn't. It's also smarter about lit and narrative than most academic criticism. I say this as someone invested in English academia, for better or worse. Anyway, the basic point is that yes, these lyrics are less instantly catchy and don't always strike you the way some stuff on Separation Sunday might have, stylistically. Still, these are mature, intelligent, wistful, sad stories that have figured out how to further the overall thematic narrative of THS without repeating what's been done before. Shit got dark, in a good way. Shit got more concise, too. There might be an issue in that this record seems to want to appeal to more people, but I think lyrically, at least, it's most interesting if you're already into the band. But I don't buy that Craig's now writing this way just to foster more mainstream appeal. I think it's an artistic development too.
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Post by muzzleofbees on Mar 25, 2014 15:30:44 GMT -5
But I don't buy that Craig's now writing this way just to foster more mainstream appeal. I think it's an artistic development too. I think it's more about development too. Not only that, I find it sort of insulting (and most definitely weird) to suggest that Craig Finn has deliberately written easier, more mainstream friendly lyrics. Insulting, because his previous work should speak for itself. And definitely weird, because how do you write your lyrics in a way more suited to the mainstream? I mean, after you move on from the straightest cliches about love and loss, isn't lyrics to a listener a) something you don't care about at all, or b) highly subjective? And not only in terms of quality, but in terms of what reaches you? And even if there was a "mainstream" way of writing lyrics, what would critics say about a song like Massive NIghs? Or You Can Make Him Like You? I find both of them both smart and funny, but you could easily pick them apart, and call them mainstream friendly, if you wanted to. I can't find one song, or one lyric on Teeth Dreams who can be denounced as easily on that basis. I can in some ways see what people mean when they talk about a given band taking a more mainstream friendly turn in their musical style. But the concept of intentional mainstream directed lyrics is - as I said - kind of weird to me. (And just one more thing: I might bring this up a bit to often, but writing on this board makes me sad that english is not my mother tounge. I can perfectly well express my feelings, but not in the way or with the words I would like to. To discuss subjects like this one, is something I'm almost as fond of as listen to great music. Doing it in a language I don't practice all that much makes it feel a bit unaccomplished or unfulfilled. But I guess I have to live with that for now )
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 26, 2014 2:08:58 GMT -5
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 26, 2014 2:12:18 GMT -5
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Post by gunnerbill on Mar 26, 2014 6:18:15 GMT -5
I see the Springsteen comparison slill in every review, but with this album I don't see it
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Post by gunnerbill on Mar 26, 2014 6:20:14 GMT -5
"They make you feel older and more scarred by life than you want to be and then more vibrantly young and hopeful than you thought you ever could be again, sometimes within the same song." Love that line...
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Post by muzzleofbees on Mar 26, 2014 7:27:39 GMT -5
For all of you scandinavian people, this review was quite good. All of you who don't understand a word can check out the decent rating.
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davew
Clever Kid
Posts: 90
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Post by davew on Mar 26, 2014 8:14:01 GMT -5
4 out of 5 in this month's Q Magazine. A surprising 2 out of 5 in Mojo.
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nowah
Sniffling Indie Kid
Posts: 226
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Post by nowah on Mar 26, 2014 17:29:37 GMT -5
Jason Heller is one of my favorite music critics. An A- from him is great and I really appreciate his take on the record. For reference: AV Club gave Boys and Girls an A-, Stay Positive a B+, and Heaven is Whenever a B.
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Post by dealwiththedealers on Mar 26, 2014 18:10:24 GMT -5
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Post by delboydrums on Apr 12, 2014 9:36:40 GMT -5
Kerrang - 5 Ks.
Great little review, sorry can't find a link yet.
Described THS as looking like a band comprised entirely of supply teachers !
(My daughter - who is a regular Kerrang reader - now thinks THS are slightly cooler)
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