Brooklyn’s natural lovechild band of Bruce Springsteen and Randy Newman return with their eighth studio album, full of polished, clever lyrics and energy, and if not quite up to 2008’s Stay Positive, deliver everything a fan would hope for. Lanyards is a particular standout here of songs that fit the E Street Band mould, and as well as Craig Finn’s clear, dramatic storytelling deliver, there’s a new music element in the form of a brass section of Stuart Bogie and Jordan McLean, such as on the mental health themed Family Farm. Emotions are stirred in that classic American feelgood-through-hardship way they do very well. There are some fine changes of pace and sudden turns, such as on Unpleasant Breakfast, and Heavy Covenant plods defiantly towards a classic triumphant build. But life in The Hold Steady world is always full of emotional ups and downs, tragedy and pathos, and on opener The Feelers they are ironically and succinctly put: “She had the aura of an angel, but she had a couple of problems/ I guess the big one is that she’s someone else’s wife”. Out on Positive Jams.
Feel free to also check out our favourite albums of 2020 here:
Fiona Apple to Lianne La Havas to Yves Tumor: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 1
Agnes Obel to Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers to Sault: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 2
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