The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
This nugget of information was posted on 04/05/10 at 11:11 am by Simon and is filed under Album, Reviews.
The world’s greatest Bar Band (TM) were first brought to my attention with their heavily lauded 3rd album Boys and Girls in America. A riotous, thumping trip through born to run era Springsteen hailed by Uncut magazine as an Album of the year and Garlanded with 5 star reviews.
2 years later, MOJO staff in Leeds were astonished to find the Band’s tour manager on the phone asking if they could play a gig at the bar. They had a free night due to an illness and cancelled gig by Counting Crows whom they were supporting. Rather than sit idly they rushed north to Leeds to play a free show. All who attended will attest to the brilliance of that impromptu gig.
You’ll find much is the same on the new record. Lyrically as literate as ever thanks to Craig Finns erudite scribbling on life and love and raconteurism. The major changes in sound have been forced upon the album by the departure of keyboardist Franz Nicolay and rather than replace him they’ve left the spaces he used to fill free of sound. This lessons the e-streetness of their sound but the touchstones are still seventies rock. Drifting melodically toward Todd Rundgren and Cheap trick. It’s superior MOR really and worthy of your attention.
7/10
