Indie rock's unlikely breakout "bar band" of 2006, the Hold Steady, will follow-up their Bruce Springsteen infused Boys and Girls in America, which garnered praise from everyone from Rolling Stone to your blog, on July 15th through Vagrant Records. Stay Positive features guest appearances from J. Mascis and Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices among others. (via Billboard) "There's less party talk," frontman Craig Finn tells Billboard.com of the new material. "I don't think anything is a radical departure, but there are things that I wanted to talk about. I was influenced a lot [by] getting old, and attempting to age gracefully. The idea is to not wake up washed up. You want to keep progressing, intellectually."
Indeed, tunes such as the slow, bluesy ballad "Lord, I'm Discouraged" and "Stay Positive" see Finn's narratives reflecting on themes of maturity. Fans will also notice that the band has opted to change up its sound on some tunes, opting for a harpsichord on "One for the Cutters" and a banjo on "Both Crosses."
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive Tracklist:
1. Constructive Summer
2. Sequestered in Memphis
3. One for the Cutters
4. Navy Sheets
5. Lord, I'm Discouraged
6. Yeah Sapphire
7. Both Crosses
8. Stay Positive
9. Magazines
10. Joke About Jamaica
11. Slapped Actress
