The Hold Steady are a band you loved commenting about in 2008, even though Stay Positive didn’t place as high in those year-end lists as past HS offerings. Regardless, Craig Finn & Co. donned tuxedos and helped Jools Holland ring in 2009 as part of his New Years Eve Hootenanny with a couple Positive anthems. This version of the title track’s more interesting than the stylized video treatment (not hard). Finn sounds a bit hoarse, which adds some urgency.
“Stay Positive”
“Sequestered In Memphis”
Fitting Father Time would be rocking out to a nostalgic track like “Stay Positive.” As far as song selection, strange these guys don’t seem to realize “Constructive Summer”‘s the best thing on that album.
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I always love seeing Finn perform. Is he talking? Is he singing? Is he yelling? It just doesn’t matter, because no matter what he’s doing, it’s full of energy and emotion and rock genius.
I’d say “Slapped Actress” is the best thing on that album, but that’s just me.
At this point, does Franz actually like the moustache, or does he only keep it because Hold Steady and W/IFS fans would think less of him if he shaved it?
YES! “Slapped Actress” is definitely the best song on the album. If any song got robbed in the Songs of the Year lists, it’s “Slapped Actress.” Should’ve been in everyone’s top 10.
Solid fucking lyrics bro. This song is so terrible as are the hold steady.
Man, they want to know exactly which bathroom
Dude it doesn?t make any difference
It can?t be important.
Yeah, sure I?ll tell my story again ?
[Chorus]
In barlight, she looked alright
In daylight, she looked desperate
That?s alright I was desperate too
I?m getting pretty sick of this interview
Subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis
Subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis
I think she drove a new Mustang
I guess it might be a rental
I remember she had satellite radio
I guess she seemed a bit nervous
Do you think I?m that stupid?
Well look, what the hell, I?ll tell my story again ?
Maybe those are a low point for Finn but they’re still not bad, and the end of Constructive Summer is pretty brilliant.
I went to your schools
i did my detention but the walls were so gray i couldn?t pay attention
i read the gospel it moved me to tears
but I couldn?t find the hate and I couldn?t find the fear
I met your savior I knelt at his feet
and he took my ten bucks and went down the street
tried to believe all the things you said
my friends that aren’t dying are already dead
Raise a toast to saint Joe Strummer
I think he might have been our only decent teacher
getting older only makes it harder to remember
we are our only saviors
we’re gonna build something this summer
2:59 mark in Sequestered: Guy with a clock for a head doing the handclaps. Totally makes the whole performance.
slapped actress is the best thing on that album, thought I was the only one that thought so. Was this not posted almost a week ago on almost every other music blog?
good performance anywhoo
Constructive Summer will be my song of May-August 09 because I missed it last year.
My summer song last was Kids by MGMT.
i’m a big fan of “me and my friends are like the drums on ‘lust for life’ – we pound it out on floor toms, our psalms are sing-along songs.”
a lyric as good as that from a song as perfectly adolescent as “constructive summer” is the only thing can get anyone who isn’t a fan to stop shitting on craig finn’s voice for even a second.