The Hold Steady Unveil Stay Positive Album Art

Yesterday guest blogger Chris Walla posted up the Hold Steady's new Ben Nichols-backed track "Sequestered In Memphis." The song has a different vibe (and more horns) than the live take of Stay Positive's 7 Seconds and Youth Of Today-referencing title track, but we've seen the tracklist, and know there are nine more to unpack, so it's all still a crap shoot. For now, we do know what the album cover looks like, at least.

With Craig's mention of a D.C.-hardcore influence and "Stay Positive"'s shouts to Ray Cappo and Kevin Seconds' crews, this is not at all what we were expecting. But it is very brown, and that infinity/positive symbol is like an updated version of wearing an "X" on your hand ... for folks who drink.
Stay Positive is out 7/14 in the UK via Rough Trade and 7/15 in the US via Vagrant.
Posted at 10:33 AM in Album Art
Tags: The Hold Steady






























Wicked !
like a day at the races
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Well, that's clever, innit?
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THis leak yet? I know, I know, how gauche to ask, but, I can't wait. Plus, I'll pay to see them live this summer, where they will actually get the $$$ rather than Rich Egan at Vagrant.
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It kind of looks like a bit in the same tone as The Futureheads' "News & Tributes." Maybe it's a Vagrant thing? Who knows... "Sequestered in Memphis" gets better with each listen and its on repeat.
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Double Plus Good
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when is this gonna leak?
it cant leak soon enough.
sequestered in memphis=awesome
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dig it!
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Before I play devil's advocate, none of us are without blood on our hands. Just saying. I understand the anticipation, yet, when did we start asking the question of "when is this gonna leak? it can't leak soon enough" so openly and without shame. It's no secret that leaks are inevitable and easily available, but come on, seriously, where is the respect. It's kind of a slap in the face to a great band when you basically say you plan on stealing the album. Me personally, the whole "leak" thing is kind of making music too fluid for me and decrease in appreciative value. I said it yesterday and I'll say it again: I'm waiting for this album to be officially released and purchased because it will be all that much more to savor. Here's hoping anyone who may encounter a leak of this album (or any other album you really enjoy) at least has the manners to return the favor by shelling out a meager $10.
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Here in NYC, the only place where you can buy an album for 10 bucks - not used - is Virgin and Best Buy, and each store profits what, $2 - 3 from that price? (Digitally, you can but I'm assuming you're talking about the physical product.) BB will have it on-sale for $10, or lower for only the first week, then raise it to $13.99, just like what they did for the new Death Cab (7.99 - 13.99), however, Virgin could keep it @ $10 for awhile if they deem it an "essential buy": Vampire Weekend and MGMT have been $10 since both albums were released 4-5 months ago and In Rainbows and MIA have been fluctuating between $10 and $12.99 since January.
So download the album when it leaks to quench your thirst, save some of yr paycheck to buy a ticket when Hold Steady comes to town and buy the album at the merch table, or buy it through their website when it released. Or, you can support your local indie record store if you don't mind paying basically full price.
Speaking of full price, how about Neil Diamond having the #1 album last week with the average price of $16.99! Ah, older white people and their money. I guess they all went to Barnes and Noble.
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Yeah, it kind of depends on where you shop seeing that "big business" names get the edge with competitve prices, but you can still work around that (if you are super anti-big business.) I'm fortunate enough to live in an area that has a few indie record stores with reasonable prices. I liked your merch stand purchase standpoint, and to elaborate on that, I would think anyone who needs to have this album ASAP would be able to pre-order it directly from the band or band's label -- They probably throw in some extra bells and whistles for doing so. Plus, who doesn't love getting things in the mail that aren't bills? Bottom line, though: Just buy the album the first week it comes out if you are planning to already because you know in a week or two, it's going to cost you as much as $5 more.
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PS ........ IT JUST LEAKED!!!!!!!!!
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The Hold Steady are my life and Michael is right
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J&R ususally has new releases for $10. Amazon is pretty reasonable. I never pay more that $13 for a CD. Whatever deal you get at the merch table, it's likely the same price on Amazon if not more.
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