"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 produ...
SOMEHOW STILL A THING