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Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever

post #1 of 89
2/23/10 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
May 4th. It's about “embracing suffering and finding reward in our everyday lives", and piano and keys take a backseat to guitar on the new record.

Tracklisting:

1 The Sweet Part of the City
2 Soft in the Center
3 The Weekenders
4 The Smidge
5 Rock Problems
6 We Can Get Together
7 Hurricane J
8 Barely Breathing
9 Our Whole Lives
10 A Slight Discomfort
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post #2 of 89
2/23/10 at 9:53am
Cool.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post
and piano and keys take a backseat to guitar on the new record.
Probably because Franz Nicholay quit.
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post #3 of 89
2/23/10 at 10:10am
Lovely. And I dig the album title.
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post #4 of 89
2/23/10 at 10:18am
Holy shit. That's awesome! Seeing them 4/13 in Cleveland. Should be awesome.
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post #5 of 89
2/23/10 at 12:02pm
Glorious. I've been revisiting all their stuff since early last week and it's still some fist-pumpingly great shit.
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post #6 of 89
2/23/10 at 12:41pm
Yeah, I'm anticipating this as well. Been rocking Separation Sunday a lot lately.
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post #7 of 89
2/23/10 at 1:08pm
Excited as well, but Nicholay's influence is what elevated the Hold Steady over their last few albums. I have some mild trepidation over the change in sound.
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post #8 of 89
2/23/10 at 1:41pm
sweet. I'm going to try to get tickets to when they come to the EL Ray theater in LA. It will be the firsttime seeing them live
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post #9 of 89
2/23/10 at 2:04pm
fuck yeah I'll be there too o/
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post #10 of 89
2/23/10 at 9:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
I've been revisiting all their stuff since early last week and it's still some fist-pumpingly great shit.
Boys and Girls In America is artistic work that's come closest to summing up the experience of "Generation Y" so far. /mindblowingly excessive hyperbole
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post #11 of 89
2/23/10 at 10:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post
Boys and Girls In America is artistic work that's come closest to summing up the experience of "Generation Y" so far. /mindblowingly excessive hyperbole
I don't know about the Generation Y stuff (or would it be Generation X? The Hold Steady guys are older than me!), but I consider it one of the few rock albums of the past 10 years that's an out-and-out artistic success. Perfection is subjective, but I see virtually no room for improvement in terms of what it sets out to do and what it achieves. No hyperbole.
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post #12 of 89
2/23/10 at 10:12pm
Thread Starter 
I think there are elements of Generation X and Y that get blurred together a lot, especially those who are near the tail end of Gen X/start of Gen Y like me, but it definitely spoke to that "I'm in my twenties and nobody taught me how to grow up" element of my generation, which is also true of Gen X (see: Judd Apatow's flicks), but is definitely also overwhelmingly prevalent among people my age, who were raised in this time of economic prosperity with parents who gave them a sense of over-entitlement, and then realized they had to, you know, work to be successful.

And even if I didn't think that, "Stuck Between Stations" would still be one of the all time great side one, track ones.
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post #13 of 89
2/23/10 at 10:28pm
Obligatory "Separation Sunday is better" post.
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post #14 of 89
2/24/10 at 1:45am
Anybody have any suggestions on where to start with Lifter/Puller?
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post #15 of 89
2/24/10 at 1:50am
"Stuck Between Stations" is an instant classic no matter how you slice it. I'm with LD, though; the keys really elevated the Hold Steady's sound, and to drop them out, I'm afraid it's going to sound a lot more generic.
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post #16 of 89
2/24/10 at 6:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Louris View Post
Anybody have any suggestions on where to start with Lifter/Puller?
Although it's their last album, I like Fiestas & Fiascos the best. Not only does it sound more like The Hold Steady, it features some of their best songwriting and story telling.

If you're curious about their older stuff, the compilation Soft Rock has pretty much everything else you'd need. Their first album is pretty weak, just to warn you. They were still finding their way.
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post #17 of 89
3/6/10 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The LD View Post
Excited as well, but Nicholay's influence is what elevated the Hold Steady over their last few albums. I have some mild trepidation over the change in sound.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post
"Stuck Between Stations" is an instant classic no matter how you slice it. I'm with LD, though; the keys really elevated the Hold Steady's sound, and to drop them out, I'm afraid it's going to sound a lot more generic.
I was going to disagree with you guys but I've been listening to Boys & Girls In America a lot over the past couple of days, and yeah, no keys would throw me off more than expected. Especially the organ on Southtown Girls.
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post #18 of 89
3/22/10 at 1:52pm
FIRST. SINGLE.

This song makes me so happy I wanna kiss someone right on the mouth. Goddamn.
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post #19 of 89
3/22/10 at 1:55pm
Yeah, it's pretty incredible. I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I've listened to it so far...
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post #20 of 89
3/22/10 at 1:57pm
I'm not. I found it 20 minutes ago and I've listened to it four times.

Wait.

:: click ::

Five.

C'mere, LD, let me give you a smooch.
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post #21 of 89
3/22/10 at 1:57pm
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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post #22 of 89
3/22/10 at 1:58pm
Jake, did you see those two guys above us who stole our logins and doubted this album? Ridiculous. If I ever see them again, I don't know what I'll do!
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post #23 of 89
3/22/10 at 2:14pm
We'll kick their asses at the very least.
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post #24 of 89
3/22/10 at 2:51pm
Way, way better than I even hoped!
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post #25 of 89
3/22/10 at 3:23pm
Beyond awesome, thanks for posting the link Miss Zooey! I think I'll listen to this again... Oh who am I kidding, I'll be listening to it at least a few times more.
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post #26 of 89
3/22/10 at 3:25pm
Hint - After listen 6, God walks out of the middle of the opening harmony and hands you an ice cream cone. It's your favorite flavor. With sprinkles.

Yeah, I re-used a joke from my Facebook page. Deal with it, "friends."
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post #27 of 89
3/22/10 at 3:59pm
BOOOOOO

*throws beer bottle*
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post #28 of 89
3/22/10 at 4:04pm
:: ducks ::

Preparing me for The Hold Steady show in July, Jake?
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post #29 of 89
3/22/10 at 4:08pm
Pretty much. GOD I CAN'T WAIT FOR MAY
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post #30 of 89
3/22/10 at 4:26pm
I didn't like it when it first started up but by the time Craig says "Hurricane Jessie's gonna crash into the harbor this summer" and I was sold. Then I started it again and have listened to it three more times.

Welcome back boys, between this, Gorillaz and Ted Leo I know what I'm gonna be driving around to this summer.
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post #31 of 89
3/22/10 at 5:14pm
How many albums can you think of that position the best song seventh in the tracklisting?

So does this mean (dramatic Fleedian pause)... we haven't even heard Heaven is Whenever at its best?
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post #32 of 89
3/22/10 at 5:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Moonrocket View Post
I didn't like it when it first started up...
I'm pretty sure this means you're dead on the inside.

Get him, boys.

IS IT MAY YET?!

eta - Dave, I just said this to you but I will say it to all. Grace - "Lover, You Should Have Come Over." But, as you pointed out, holy hell, the rest of that album...
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post #33 of 89
3/22/10 at 5:53pm
Amazing song. I'll be very disappointed if the rest of the album doesn't sound this good. I'm still worried by their self-described "less anthemic" approach to this album. Doesn't really apply to this song, that's for sure.
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post #34 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissZooey View Post
eta - Dave, I just said this to you but I will say it to all. Grace - "Lover, You Should Have Come Over." But, as you pointed out, holy hell, the rest of that album...
Yeah, I think "Grace" and I can't just single out "Lover, You Should Have Come Over". It's consistently awesome.
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post #35 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:01pm
I mean even if I never have to hear "Last Goodbye" or "Hallelujah" again in my life I'm okay with that but they're still fantastic songs
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post #36 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:06pm
I really don't care for Grace. At all. I suggest that anyone who does is probably intellectually suspect.

And also a red-headed girl, in all likelihood.
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post #37 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:08pm
As a dumb red-headed girl with massive breasts who enjoys Grace, I'm getting a kick out of your replies to this thread.
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post #38 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
As a dumb red-headed girl with massive breasts.
This is why you're my facebook friend.
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post #39 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
I mean even if I never have to hear "Last Goodbye" or "Hallelujah" again in my life I'm okay with that but they're still fantastic songs
You're definitely dead on the inside.

GET HIM, BOYS!!

Yeah, I'm just trying to start a fight. Seems to be in the spirit of the thread.
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post #40 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissZooey View Post
You're definitely dead on the inside.

GET HIM, BOYS!!

Yeah, I'm just trying to start a fight. Seems to be in the spirit of the thread.
I'm reconsidering my Buckley post, in light of all the boys you have getting them.
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post #41 of 89
3/22/10 at 6:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The LD View Post
I really don't care for Grace. At all. I suggest that anyone who does is probably intellectually suspect.
AND HIM! GET HIM FIRST!! I'M GOING TO NEED A BIGGER ANGRY MOB!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
As a dumb red-headed girl with massive breasts who enjoys Grace, I'm getting a kick out of your replies to this thread.
Well, I'm not dumb, but I do have... Wait. I think I missed something. :: scurries off to check Facebook ::
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post #42 of 89
3/22/10 at 7:01pm
It's not so much that I don't like Last Goodbye or Hallelujah, I just don't want to hear those songs for a few months. It's the same reason I put that brief moratorium on Blood On The Tracks and For Emma, Forever Ago.
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post #43 of 89
3/22/10 at 8:52pm
Back on topic- this song is awesome. Can't wait to hear it live.
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post #44 of 89
3/22/10 at 10:38pm
It's gonna be fucking GREAT.
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post #45 of 89
3/22/10 at 11:01pm
Thread Starter 
Via work, I have listened to "Hallelujah" at least once a day since November. No more, please.

New single rocks. I need to see these guys, and soon. If I can see them, Arcade Fire, and the National this year, it'll be a good year.
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post #46 of 89
3/23/10 at 12:16am
Wow, wow, wow. 'Hurricane J' is my fave song right now.

Album cover is perfection, too:

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post #47 of 89
3/23/10 at 1:29am
That is one skinny fuckin' arm, though.
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post #48 of 89
3/23/10 at 1:34am
Not everyone is a huge Goliath of Man like you, Jake.

***looks at skinny arms and hides them under a sweatshirt***
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post #49 of 89
3/29/10 at 12:34pm
New new song.
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post #50 of 89
4/2/10 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker View Post
And another one.

ETA: So far none of these songs fit the "no more anthems" description Finn put forward a while ago. And I"m grateful. Really excited for this one.
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