The Essential Hold Steady

In 2003, Craig Finn and his friends Galen Polivka and Tad Kubler were watching the infamous rock documentary “The Last Waltz,” when they realized that most current music was not living up to the greats portrayed in the film. Thus came the decision to make a band that to rekindle the talent of the greats of old.

They were all seasoned, competent musicians; even so, the whole was greater than its parts and the success they achieved amazing. Now they’re coming to the Fargo Theatre, one of the more anticipated shows of the year.

Which is the best Hold Steady album? They’re all good. You decide.

“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 publications noticed the talent and placed it in their year end lists. With its Thin Lizzy meets The Replacements’ guitar sound 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 listen to “The Swish” with Craig’s gift for storytelling (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, Killer Parties

“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, it’s 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.
Download These: Your Little Hoodrat Friend, Banging Camp, Stevie Nix

“Boys and Girls in America” (2006)
After jumping from French Kiss Records to Vagrant, The Hold Steady dropped what initially looked 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 the best 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 is the most infectious song on the disc.
Download These: Chillout Tents, Chips Ahoy, Stuck Between Stations

“Stay Positive” (2008)
The most recent release, “Stay Positive,” 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, is how well Craig is singing and the Slash-like guitar solos peppering some of the tracks, like the tender “Lord, I’m Discouraged.”
Download These: Constructive Summer, Sequestered in Memphis, Lord I’m Discouraged

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INFO:
Who: The Hold Steady
When: Sun, Oct 18, 8pm
Where: The Fargo Theatre
How Much: $16, all ages