The Essential Hold Steady

“Almost Killed Me” (2004)

After the demise of Twin Cities-based indie-rockers, Lifter Puller, Craig Finn and Tad Kubler moved to Brooklyn and formed the Hold Steady. Their first disc, “Almost Killed Me,” went mostly unnoticed by record buyers and critics, but a few mags, including Spin, sniffed out the talent and placed it in their year end lists. With a guitar sound somewhere between Thin Lizzy and The Replacements, and the half-spoken word singing of Craig Finn, it’s not hard to see why it flew under the radar at first, but after one listens to “The Swish” with Craig’s genius lyrics (even name-dropping Neil Schon), it’s hard to figure out why it wasn’t a bigger hit. The album also features the first mention of recurring characters Gideon, Charlemagne, and Holly.

Download These: The Swish, Hostile Mass, Most People Are DJs

“Separation Sunday” (2005)

The second release, “Separation Sunday,” is their love letter to the Twin Cities. A concept album, featuring Craig as the narrator and starring Holly, Gideon and Charlemagne, “Separation Sunday” is an album that, no matter how much it steals from the past, is entirely original. It also features more amped-up guitars, organ and the la-la-la vocals that would be their trademark going forward. And with bones brigade videos, Hoodrat friends and too many religious references to count, it makes for their most Springsteen-sounding album. This is The Hold Steady at its finest, an album that’s a necessity to own if you have any taste in music at all and the second best (after Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois) record of 2005.

Download These: Your Little Hoodrat Friend, Banging Camp, Stevie Nix

“Boys and Girls” (2006)

After jumping from French Kiss Records to Vagrant, The Hold Steady dropped what was thought (or at least what people were hoping) to be their breakthrough album. Stealing its title from “On the Road,” “Boys and Girls” is catchy as hell and did well with the critics, but the sales weren’t what they should have been. But, then again, that shouldn’t be a surprise at all since good music usually isn’t popular. The first single “Chips Ahoy!” is overly poppy and there are plenty more like it, like “Stuck Between Stations” which deals with the suicide of poet John Berryman yet makes you giddy.

Download These: Chillout Tents, Chips Ahoy, Stuck Between Stations

“Stay Positive” (2008)

The most recent release, “Stay Positive,” like the last record, starts out with a great one-two punch, but as it moves on it’s a different beast all together. The first track “Constructive Summer” is everything that makes the Hold Steady possibly the best band (or at least American band) on the planet. The ghost of the E Street Band is definitely hovering over the first track, as well as the bomb-ass first single, “Sequestered in Memphis.” The third track, “One for the Cutters,” begins with a harpsichord and sounds like something Jon Brion had his hands in. What’s maybe most noticeable, though, after a few listens is how well Craig is singing and the Slash-like guitar solo’s peppering some of the tracks like the tender “Lord, I’m Discouraged.” What could have been another album of the same old stuff to please the fans is brave as hell and the first great disc of the year.

Download These: Constructive Summer, Sequestered in Memphis, Lord I’m Discouraged

Hold Steady: Fargo Theatre; July 23, 8 p.m.