Hold Steady's new album

[Vas Deferens]

After repeated listenings, I still can't get into this album...anyone else in the same boat?
 
 I think the album has terrible production...

[kcjones119]

I would think you're in the minority on this one.  I love this album.

[ratioci nation]

i don't think its nearly as good as the previous 2

[crevers]

To my ears, their new album hasn't lived up to the more cohesive and catchier Separation Sunday.  I'll take "Banging Camp" and "How a Resurrection Really Feels" over any of the new tracks.

[BookerT]

Originally posted by pdx pollard:
  i don't think its nearly as good as the previous 2

agreed. "separation sunday" was only a very slight step down from "almost killed me," but this one isn't quite in the same league. still very enjoyable, but i think i've already gotten everything i'm going to get from it, which certainly wasn't the case with the others after a couple of weeks.

[Bombay Chutney]

I agree with most of the above.  Loved the first two.  Not getting into this one as much.  It's not bad and I'll admit I need to listen to it more, but it's just not grabbing me the way the others did.

[chaz]

I don't love it as much as the first two.  I go back forth between sunday and allmost killed me as far as which one of those I like better.
 
 I still think the new one is pretty great though.

[kcjones119]

Guess I was wrong:
   <img src="http://www.kojinshugi.com/wp-content/crow.jpg" alt=" - " />
 
 Almost Killed Me is my favorite and I thought that this one sounded more like that, with piano.  Seperation Sunday didn't have that initial spark with me that this one did.  I did see them at the Ottobar a month ago and the songs do sound great live.

[brennser]

let me add to the chorus of folks finding it to be a good, not great album
 
 the songs just don't have the catchiness or immediacy of their previous work...as a Hold Steady fine I like it - however if I was trying to convert a new fan I'd be hard pressed to find one killer song on the new one to hook someone

[dfmcpete]

Massive Nights.

[chaz]

Either way, I'm really looking forward to the BC show in a few weeks.

[vansmack]

Ditto.  While I don't think every track can live up to the brilliance of "How a Resurrection Really Feels", this new album is not as strong as the previous two.  Still good though.

[BookerT]

i'm listening to it again right now and it starts off very strong but just never recovers from the over-the-top schmaltz that is "first night." "massive nights" comes close, but i really hate key changes, so that song doesn't quite do it for me. i do like "southtown girls," though. dave pirner's presence on "chillout tent" freaks me out a bit.