Post by loupap on Dec 18, 2008 12:28:10 GMT -5
Stay Positive tops Chris Willman's list [EW's other list, by Leah Greenblatt, gives the nod to TV On the Radio's Dear Science]:
1. STAY POSITIVE -- The Hold Steady
''Classic rock'' and ''indie rock'' usually stick to their respective corners, but the Hold Steady never got that memo. Sans vocals, you might mistake them for the E Street Band rumbling with Hüsker Dü, and their fourth album stretches to invoke Bowie, Zeppelin, even Richie Sambora. The only thing standing between them and an arena full of Bic lighters might be idiosyncratic frontman Craig Finn, who passionately spits out songs about substance abuse, sex, murder, class differences, and growing old gracelessly — all with the narrative drive and character mystery of great short stories. If you could use a booster shot to stay positive about the state of rock & roll going into 2008, there's none better than this glorious, funny, sad, and altogether rousing album.
1. STAY POSITIVE -- The Hold Steady
''Classic rock'' and ''indie rock'' usually stick to their respective corners, but the Hold Steady never got that memo. Sans vocals, you might mistake them for the E Street Band rumbling with Hüsker Dü, and their fourth album stretches to invoke Bowie, Zeppelin, even Richie Sambora. The only thing standing between them and an arena full of Bic lighters might be idiosyncratic frontman Craig Finn, who passionately spits out songs about substance abuse, sex, murder, class differences, and growing old gracelessly — all with the narrative drive and character mystery of great short stories. If you could use a booster shot to stay positive about the state of rock & roll going into 2008, there's none better than this glorious, funny, sad, and altogether rousing album.
