The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America

When I was in high school and still had dreams of playing in a band, The Hold Steady was the type of band I always pictured had in my head. Rocking tunes with great lyrics. I would be getting laid all the time. Those dreams were shattered by the fact that I keep a beat like Steve Martin in The Jerk and I sing I like a cat in a blender.

Fortunately for us, The Hold Steady blend superb lyrics with a straight-ahead approach that is refreshing with its lack of pretention. Craig Finn, who looks like he should be filing my taxes instead of fronting one of the best bands in America, has a gift for painting a vivid picture with his lyrics. Much like some of Zappa’s lyrics on Joe’s Garage, I feel as if I am watching the scene unfold in front of me as opposed to listening to a song on my Ipod.

Chillout Tent is set a festival of Lollapalooza/Bonaroo proportions where a couple of overzealous participants make a love-connection in the first aid tent. As the song unfolds, I almost feel like I am watching a bad reality show on MTV. I actually felt bad at the end when it turns out to be just a one time deal.

The theme of love-found, love-lost and love-never found is a common theme throughout the record set in various times and places. Chips Ahoy!! takes place a horse race. Massive Night recounts the big parties of yesteryear, while You Can Make Him Love You explores the love life of the teenage girl, offering expert advice like “make sure your boyfriend buys the weed and there are always other boys out there when you tire of his scene.”

I can’t reccomend this album strongly enough. The Hold Steady continue to be everything that is right with music these days. Phenomenal albums, great live performances and five guys that actually seem to be having fun doing it. It is infectious.