IN REVIEW: The Hold Steady - "Teeth Dreams"

"Certain songs, they get scratched into our souls", Craig Finn sang on his band's debut album just over a decade ago. In the time that's passed, they've slowly transformed from scrappy bar rock bards to earnest arena rock storytellers. Nowhere was this more clear than on The Hold Steady's previous album, 2010's Heaven Is Whenever; packed with ballads and light on the energy that flowed through their first trio of records, that album put the focus squarely on the craft.

With Teeth Dreams, The Hold Steady attempt to get back to the rollicking party rock that enamored so many to them in the first place. New guitarist Steve Selvidge is all over the record, layering on thick licks and hard riffs depending on what the situation calls for. They've also turned to acclaimed rock producer Nick Raskulinecz, whose previous work includes Deftones, Alice in Chains and Foo Fighters. To be sure, then, this is a rock record.

The thing is, it's a heavily produced, polished rock album; nothing is out of place, every note exactly where it should be. Especially noticeable are Finn's vocals; previously unhinged and erratic, here soaked in reverb and treated as just another instrument, never rising too high in the mix. It's all executed with perfection, making this easily The Hold Steady's best album from a purely technical standpoint.

However, with all those ragged edges sanded off, all the warts and wrinkles buried under skin cream, the songs lose most of their intended impact. Even album closer Oaks, a nine-minute far reaching ballad replete with dueling guitar solos, failed to truly grab me. In fact, none of the ten really stood out; they're all good songs, but after listening to Teeth Dreams I can't say definitively which songs are better or worse than others on the album. They exist to keep you company, to give you something to do for 45 minutes. As pleasant and inoffensive as Teeth Dreams is, there's just nothing here that scratches into my soul.

March 25, 2014 • Washington Square/Razor & Tie

Highlights I Hope This Whole Things Didn't Frighten You • Spinners • Oaks