It isn't often that Entertainment Weekly and Pitchfork Media will agree on something, so the high praise for the new Hold Steady album caught me by surprise. I've always admired this band for Springsteen-like stylings, but the party-hearty lyrics of the last couple albums didn't do a lot for me. But I'll agree with EW and Bitchfork, the new Stay Positive album has fascinating lyrics about war veterans and townies with shady pasts, and clever arrangements throughout. Not sure I agree with the Bitchfork observation of suggestions of Husker Du, however. Still, here's one of the top contenders for 2008.
