Sequestered In Memphis by the Hold Steady
Yeah sure I'll tell my story again.
In bar light. She looked alright.
In daylight? She looked desperate.
And it was over. I mean, as if Craig Finn ever need a little prodding to start telling a story. But hey, that's what he's here for, so...
What the Hell, I'll tell my story again.
In bar light. She looked alright.
In daylight? She looked desperate.
Jeff Tweedy writes lines that I'd kill to write, but Craig Finn is coming in a closer and closer second.
We all know this girl... and we all know the two guys in this situation: one of the guys will smile, and say, 'hey that's your problem darling'. The other will take full advantage of that desperation. The Hold Steady let our imagination run wild in these situations -- what does one do? Who does one end up with?
Personally, I miss Holly and the happenings at Penetration Park... but hey I'll take a rock anthem any day of the week. If life was a movie, we would all chant this song when it came on at a bar. "Subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis!"
And I'd pay about a thousand bucks to listen to Bruce cover Hold Steady songs. That my friends, would be awesome.
Finally, in a year where indie band continued to suck, why can't they be more like the Hold Steady and other bands that don't try to reinvent the wheel? The Hold Steady know they're going to write amazing lyrics and tell great stories in their songs, so who cares what the music sounds like as long as it matches the mood of the words? The Hold Steady don't do anything Earth-shattering musicially, just nice riffs and a decent hook once in a while. And they sound great...
So what's wrong with music as the '00s end? Why have the bands moved away from the early decade simplicity of the Strokes, White Stripes, Hives, Hold Steady, even Belle & Sebastian and the Shins and so on and so on?
Showing posts with label The Hold Steady. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hold Steady. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Your Little Hoodrat Friend by the Hold Steady
"I've been dusted in the dark up in penetration park./I've been plastered... But I ain't ever been with your little hoodrat friend."
This really says it all. I don't live the life of any of the Hold Steady's songs. But I can appreciate it. I can only imagine what it'd be like. I can appreciate the life style, and even thought it's not me nor most of my friends, it brings a smile to my face.
But it only gets better:
"Tiny little text etched into her neck it said "Jesus lived and died for all your sins."/She's got blue black ink and it's Scratched into her lower back./It said: "damn right I'll rise again." yeah, damn right you'll rise again."
Last Good Friday, I sat there at the service contemplating what Jesus' death meant to me. That Christ died for all of us... and as I sat there those words, in Craig Finn's voice sang out "Jesus lived and died for all your sins" popped into my head.
I felt bad. I felt like what I was thinking was wrong. Maybe it was Catholic guilt... maybe I'll be punished later in life - or death - and it's that's the case, I'll be pretty bummed out. Is it really my fault that Jesus' death lead me to thinking about Craig Finn's lyrics? He did go to Boston College, so we're both Jesuit educated... or maybe it's just our/my way of putting faith into perspective? I think I need to figure this one out still. We'll see what this season of Lent brings to the table and mind.
"I've been dusted in the dark up in penetration park./I've been plastered... But I ain't ever been with your little hoodrat friend."
This really says it all. I don't live the life of any of the Hold Steady's songs. But I can appreciate it. I can only imagine what it'd be like. I can appreciate the life style, and even thought it's not me nor most of my friends, it brings a smile to my face.
But it only gets better:
"Tiny little text etched into her neck it said "Jesus lived and died for all your sins."/She's got blue black ink and it's Scratched into her lower back./It said: "damn right I'll rise again." yeah, damn right you'll rise again."
Last Good Friday, I sat there at the service contemplating what Jesus' death meant to me. That Christ died for all of us... and as I sat there those words, in Craig Finn's voice sang out "Jesus lived and died for all your sins" popped into my head.
I felt bad. I felt like what I was thinking was wrong. Maybe it was Catholic guilt... maybe I'll be punished later in life - or death - and it's that's the case, I'll be pretty bummed out. Is it really my fault that Jesus' death lead me to thinking about Craig Finn's lyrics? He did go to Boston College, so we're both Jesuit educated... or maybe it's just our/my way of putting faith into perspective? I think I need to figure this one out still. We'll see what this season of Lent brings to the table and mind.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Banging Camp
Banging Camp by the Hold Steady (90/365)
"There's strings attached to every single lover..." how true. I love this song, the banging guitar, the background vocals of "ooooo-la-la-la-laala", and Craig Finn's vocals. Oh so great. I think over the course of this album, I fall for Holly a bit, "Holly wore a cross to ward them off." What a great summer song... I could totally go for a beer and a burger when I hear this song.
I should also add that two and a half years ago D and I decided to only use bang when referring to sex. I'm not sure why other than it was funny. It's gotten to the point where I don't even realize that I use it pretty much all the time in conversation with peers. I guess it's cool and funny. Whatever.
Listen to a bit:
The Hold Steady – Banging Camp<
Watch:
"There's strings attached to every single lover..." how true. I love this song, the banging guitar, the background vocals of "ooooo-la-la-la-laala", and Craig Finn's vocals. Oh so great. I think over the course of this album, I fall for Holly a bit, "Holly wore a cross to ward them off." What a great summer song... I could totally go for a beer and a burger when I hear this song.
I should also add that two and a half years ago D and I decided to only use bang when referring to sex. I'm not sure why other than it was funny. It's gotten to the point where I don't even realize that I use it pretty much all the time in conversation with peers. I guess it's cool and funny. Whatever.
Listen to a bit:
The Hold Steady – Banging Camp<
Watch:
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night by the Hold Steady
This may be one of the greatest lyrical songs ever penned. It just drips of references and images and everything that's good when listening to someone talk... I'll let them do the work, since my words will pale in comparison (If you want to read a footnote version of the song, check this out):
Listen!
nelson algren came to paddy at some party at the dead end alley. he told him what to celebrate.
and i met william butler yeats. sunday nite dance party summer 1988. at first i thought it might be william blake.
we mix our own mythologies. we push them out through pa systems. we dictate our doxologies and try to get sleeping kids to sit up and listen. i'm not saying we could save you. but we could put you in a place where you could save yrself. if you don't get born again at least you'll get high as hell.
sweet saint paul. that must be the hardest luck saint of them all. we met him in some suburban saint paul mall. when st. theresa came to holly. i wasn't even at that party. i'd already moved out to new york city. when judas went up and kissed him. i almost got sick. i guess i knew what was coming. i guess i knew it was coming.
we gather our gospels from gossip and bar talk then declare them the truth. we salvage our sermons from message boards and scene reports. we come on to the youth. we try out new testements on the guys sitting next to us in the bars with the bars in their windows. even if you don't get converted tonite you must admit that the band's pretty tight.
they did she's got legs into ain't 2 proud 2 beg into something by the dixie dregs. they faked their way thru fairytale of new york. when the band stopped playing we howled out for more.
hey nelson algren. chicago seemed tired last nite. they had cigarettes where there were supposed to be eyes. hey william butler yeats. the irish seemed wired last nite. they tried to separate our girls from our guys. they had cigarettes where there were supposed to be eyes.
Listen!
This may be one of the greatest lyrical songs ever penned. It just drips of references and images and everything that's good when listening to someone talk... I'll let them do the work, since my words will pale in comparison (If you want to read a footnote version of the song, check this out):
Listen!
nelson algren came to paddy at some party at the dead end alley. he told him what to celebrate.
and i met william butler yeats. sunday nite dance party summer 1988. at first i thought it might be william blake.
we mix our own mythologies. we push them out through pa systems. we dictate our doxologies and try to get sleeping kids to sit up and listen. i'm not saying we could save you. but we could put you in a place where you could save yrself. if you don't get born again at least you'll get high as hell.
sweet saint paul. that must be the hardest luck saint of them all. we met him in some suburban saint paul mall. when st. theresa came to holly. i wasn't even at that party. i'd already moved out to new york city. when judas went up and kissed him. i almost got sick. i guess i knew what was coming. i guess i knew it was coming.
we gather our gospels from gossip and bar talk then declare them the truth. we salvage our sermons from message boards and scene reports. we come on to the youth. we try out new testements on the guys sitting next to us in the bars with the bars in their windows. even if you don't get converted tonite you must admit that the band's pretty tight.
they did she's got legs into ain't 2 proud 2 beg into something by the dixie dregs. they faked their way thru fairytale of new york. when the band stopped playing we howled out for more.
hey nelson algren. chicago seemed tired last nite. they had cigarettes where there were supposed to be eyes. hey william butler yeats. the irish seemed wired last nite. they tried to separate our girls from our guys. they had cigarettes where there were supposed to be eyes.
Listen!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Cattle and the Creeping Things
Cattle and the Creeping Things by The Hold Steady
The Horn Law applies here… but only after that pounding guitar and Craig Finn's voice kick everything off. I know at first his voice seems like the worst thing ever, but honestly, I love it. It's a fantastic story telling voice and Craig Finn tells great stories. The fact that he's got a kick ass back up band only helps. I don't know about anyone else, but I feeling like drinking when I hear this song. I also wish I had nights like Craig Finn more often. He meets so many interesting people and does so many interesting things!
Listen:
And an acoustic MP3 (it's pretty cool)
The Horn Law applies here… but only after that pounding guitar and Craig Finn's voice kick everything off. I know at first his voice seems like the worst thing ever, but honestly, I love it. It's a fantastic story telling voice and Craig Finn tells great stories. The fact that he's got a kick ass back up band only helps. I don't know about anyone else, but I feeling like drinking when I hear this song. I also wish I had nights like Craig Finn more often. He meets so many interesting people and does so many interesting things!
Listen:
And an acoustic MP3 (it's pretty cool)
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