New Hold Steady - "40 Bucks" (Stereogum Premiere)
So far, all the teaser material for the Hold Steady's forthcoming live CD/DVD A Positive Rage has been of the Stuck Between Stations" rock-out variety, reminding folks that, yes, they can really whip a crowd into a fury. "40 Bucks," a new song from Positive's bonus disc takes a mellower approach, Craig Finn laying out a tale about a sad-case scenester girl from Birmingham with $40 bucks, a favorite band, and a tendency to stay out too late, miss work, etc. We learn that her love of music (and musicians) runs deep via Finn's sharp character sketches of her mom and pop, but the fantasy-popping punchline -- she's two 20's poorer at the finale, and how -- is what makes her really come to life.
Positive Rage is out via Vagrant.
Posted at 9:42 AM by brandon
Tags: The Hold Steady
the hold steady for some reason get main stream attention and if you go to there concerts there are a lot of losers. Put on a great show though.
Score = -23
The kind of guy who goes to a show, has a good time and calls the crowd, "losers" is not my kind of guy. Hold steady ybor city.......
Score = 13
Yea, you should really only go to Animal Collective shows to be with the winners. Losers have been known to hang out Hold Steady shows.
Score = 6
always like his storytelling skills. catchy little song.
Score = 2
Positive Rage is out, at least according to my local record store, who has it on their shelves (along with Mirior Noir...)
Score = -1
Hold Steady is a great live band, but Finn's lyrical fixations on parties, drugs, drinking, desperate young people, etc. are starting to become rote. It's like listening to someone tell you the same story every time you see them... it's interesting the first couple of times but after that it's pretty boring.
Score = -3
Good storytelling, not nearly as clever as I like Finn to be though.
Score = -1