The Hold Steady
A Positive Rage
Vagrant Records
10/10

Well, it’s about time. I was wondering when my ear’s balls were going to drop. It took 17 tracks of bar-room sing-along rock and roll to make it happen. Thanks, Hold Steady! The live recording of their second night at Chicago’s Metro is complemented by a DVD documentary featuring backstage snippets, interviews and thousands of fans making new friends as they scream each and everyone of vocalist Craig Finn’s words back at him.

Flowing through a set full of badass, full blown rock and roll tracks like “Same Kooks”, “Chips Ahoy,” and “Girls Like Status,” The Hold Steady also slow it down with their own version of power ballads “Lord, I’m Discouraged,” “Citrus,” and “First Night.” With an appeal to both your uncle Eddie with the Foreigner tattoo and all your friends from the PunkNews.org boards, use The Hold Steady to build common ground so Uncle Eddie can find the joys of The Lawrence Arms. However, MattRamone needs no introduction to Uncle Eddie’s Foghat record collection.

-Jonathan Yost