Uncut Magazine recently completed a Zaprudian-esque effort in reviewing The Hold Steady's new LP, Stay Positive, due July 15 on Vagrant.  The gist being Finn's maturing in a business that people work in to escape maturity.  As was with Boys And Girls In America, the sound is rocking but the words pierce you in the heart and soul.

From Uncut:

But anyway, it’s obviously not just the lyrics that make “Stay Positive” so rich. The anthems are bigger, the range wider, the cascading E-Street piano lines more prevalent and vivid. “Constructive Summer” might reference “St Joe Strummer”, but its clearest antecedents seem to be Husker Du and REM circa “Little America”. “Sequestered In Memphis” has a trumpet-led chorus that is the catchiest thing they’ve ever written. 

In the meantime, the Steady do what the Steady do best (besides pound Budweisers like sunflower seeds): tour prolificly.  There are no Florida dates (apparently nobody's waking up in Ybor City this time 'round), but these dates seem awfully limited.  Expect to see additions.

The Hold Steady on tour (courtesy of Billboard):

June 8: Chula Vista, Calif. (Devore Stadium)
June 27: Baltimore (Rams Head Live!)
June 28: Philadelphia (Festival Pier)
June 29: Brooklyn, N.Y. (McCarren Pool)
July 17: Cleveland (Beachland Ballroom)
July 18: Pontiac, Mich. (Crofoot Ballroom)
July 19: Chicago (Pitchfork Festival)
July 21: Madison, Wis. (Majestic Theatre)
July 22: Minneapolis (First Avenue)
July 23: Fargo, N.D. (Fargo Theatre)
July 26: Seattle (Capitol Hill Block Party)
July 27: Portland, Ore. (Crystal Ballroom)
July 29: San Francisco (Mezzanine)
July 30: Los Angeles (Avalon)
Aug. 2: Tuscon, Ariz. (Rialto Theatre)
Aug. 3: El Paso, Texas (Club 101)
Aug. 5: Dallas (Palladium)
Aug. 6: Austin, Texas (La Zona Rosa)
Aug. 8: Oxford, Miss. (Proud Larry's)
Aug. 9: Athens, Ga. (40 Watt Club)
Aug. 10: Charleston, S.C. (Pourhouse)
Aug. 12: Carrborro, N.C. (Cat's Cradle)
Aug. 13: Norfolk, Va. (The Norva)

 

"Stuck Between Stations" -- The Hold Steady at Czar (1/19/08)