The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

Just three days after The Hold Steady posted their new single, "Sequestered In Memphis," on MySpace, their entire fourth album, Stay Positive, decided to leak. It's been almost two years since their last release, Boys and Girls In America, so it's safe to say that the anticipation level for Stay Positive is pretty much through the roof. Thankfully, the album does not disappoint in the slightest. From the opening power chord crunch of "Constructive Summer," Stay Positive swaggers and stomps with that classic Hold Steady attitude, touching upon their usual lyrical mélange of sex, drugs, and alcohol. But, not all the things are the same in Hold Steady land. No, instead Stay Positive finds the quintet using a brilliant horn section in the aforementioned lead single, while a harpsichord (of all things!) adds an epic element to "One For The Cutters," and a whiny guitar riff swirls around "Navy Sheets." And then, there are the ballads, the live show favorite "Lord, I'm Discouraged" and the moody, guitar-picking "Both Crosses." But really, it's that anthemic Hold Steady sound that gives Stay Positive its staying power, especially on such strong tracks as the title track, "Joke About Jamaica," and "Slapped Actress." In other words, there is no reason why you should not download this album.

DOWNLOAD: The Hold Steady - Stay Positive [Vagrant]
Recommended Tracks: "Constructive Summer," "Sequestered In Memphis," "Stay Positive," "Joke About Jamaica," "Slapped Actress."