Maybe it’s me getting older but

[fowler1969]

I’ve tried to like the price of progress but as a fan since discovering THS on eMusic around the time of seperation sunday and who’s seem them live many times I just can’t get into p.o.p. This is just my opinion and I guess I’m a minority on here saying this
For me I think the problem is the production of the album. It’s too muddy there’s too much going on at once losing the bands individuality 
Live the horn section works great but in this record the production tries for a wall of sound but to me sounds like a wall of sludge
I love the band to bits and own every album on vinyl but by the time this one arrived to the uk from preorder I’d listened to it digitally first and just didn’t connect or enjoy it. I figured this would change with the vinyl version but no.
I tried again last night following the lyrics while listening and there’s some great lyrics on there but I feel Craig sounded disconnected this time around for me. 
For me I’m hoping this album is a blip as it’s the first hold steady album I’ve not found joy in, loved thrashing and bits of odp and I need a new war is one of my favourite albums of the last ten years
maybe it’s just me and my state of mind 

[john k]

Time to bring back Jersey John

[fowler1969]

I gave it another couple of play throughs today in my shop and it’s growing on me
definitely a slow burner
weirdly sounded better through the spotify today than the hd version did in my headphones last night

[bmegroove]

Jul 29, 2023 14:59:27 GMT -5 fowler1969 said:

I gave it another couple of play throughs today in my shop and it’s growing on me
definitely a slow burner
weirdly sounded better through the spotify today than the hd version did in my headphones last night

I agree about the sound feeling a little muddy. I know this is a ridiculous question but have you tried CRANKING the volume on some speakers (rather than headphones)? I feel like the album really opened up for me when I did.

Also, listening to Perdido on repeat helps haha

[tbob]

The sound is definitely muddy. I guess it’s intentional because Kaufman has been on board as producer so long but a strange sound choice for me.
There’s a bunch of stuff I really like saying that. Grand Junction and Carlos is Crying are both great, the lyrics on Sideways Skull are fantastic even if the muddy sound hamstrings it a little and Sixers is top tier new Hold Steady. I also like Distortions of Faith a lot.
It’s not their best album by any stretch but this late in their career there’s so much to love and they’re still outstripping all their contemporaries.

[doctoracula]

I'm with you. I tried to connect with it for a while when it first came out and it just didn't take. The production is definitely a barrier for me. I feel like it saps all the energy out of their sound. It's muffled and muddy and so subdued. I like when I feel like I can get at least some of the energy of their live show from the records. I'm also hoping it's just a blip and I'm definitely curious to hear what they do next. But I wouldn't mind if they tried a different producer next time around.