Customer Reviews
Positive Ambition, Mixed Results - By: Man Without a Soul, 13 Oct 2008 
The title 'Stay Positive' is a bit of a risky one - what is conceived as a ralllying calll could end up sounding like a desperate plea if the album fallls flat - & this release has a lot to live up to. 'Boys & Girls' was a fun listen & carved out a niche for the band as the feel good rockers who boasted untypicallly clever lyrics.
The band appear very much aware of this on the opening two tracks which follow the blueprint established on 'Boys & Girls' a little too closely. The next two songs throw a lot of new ideas in the mix but aren't 100% successful. At this point on my first listen I was a little worried - not one of these songs is a patch on the first 4 songs that opened the last album. 'Lord I'm Discouraged' marks the breakthrough - it is a steady, stately slow burner that boasts an awesome guitar solo that ignites the album. The next three songs continue the winning run - 'Sapphire' has a mean guitar sound, 'Crosses' would have been one of the better songs on the recent Gutter Twins album & the title track contains this album's great impassioned (and slightly comical) Finn vocal.
The quality dips slightly on 'Magazines' but it is still a catchy enough rocker before 'Stay Positive' ralllies for a big 1-2 finish. 'Jamaica' is a bit kitchen sink with its Specials organ, rambling piano, voice box solo & alll the rest but it is theatrical in a good way & works pretty well. More successful is the stunning 'Actress' which delivers the grandest of grand finales & recallls the more dramatic moments from last year's Okkervil River album 'The Stage Names'.
You have to applaud The Hold Steady for trying something different with this album - an approach that is far more welcome than the usual routine of producing a weak retread of former glories. It could alll falll into place on the next release - mark this one down as 'transitional'.
Best album of 2008 so far! - By: Mr. Scott Browne, 20 Sep 2008 
I just wanted to say that I am flabergasted by the 2 reviews whcih rate this as 2 stars. I would say that if anything, the first 2 albums are a band finding their feet, Boys & Girls in America sees them finallly perfect the early sound & this is something else entirely.
Craig Finn's voice is definitely at it's best on this album as is Tad Kubler's outstanding guitar (check the J Mascis' esque solo on 'Lord I'm Discouraged.)
Elsewhere, banjo & harpsichord add an element never heard before & if you're looking for a Chips Ahoy! look no further than the title track itself. I literallly have not stopped playing this & have recommended it to most of my mates, who also have been won over (even my old man who is very sceptical of hype!)
In short, ignore the second & third review & indulge in a true classic.
What is going on with this great band? - By: Magic Rat, 08 Sep 2008 
At first hearing it sounds as if everything is well in the Hold Steady camp, as Constructive Summer & Hey Sapphire do the business. But after another few plays it seems that the wheels have come off the wagon. Their previous album was arguably the best of 2006, but this is just plain disappointing, unfocused, cluttered production. Even Craig Finn's lyrics aren't up to their usual high standards. I'm going back to play the first two albums to remind me how good these guys are. But in rock & roll three out of four ain't bad & I rate Stay Positive's `Lord, I'm Discouraged' which is like an early episode of Twin Peaks.
One of the best rock albums for 20 years - By: Mr. S. Holloway, 01 Aug 2008 Great stories, great musicians & great songs!
Up there with NEVERMIND,BORN TO RUN, JOSHUA TREE, SOFT BULLETIN & DESERTERS SONGS
sublime! BUY NOW
Don't mention Tampa... - By: AJ Hunt, 18 Jul 2008 After the brilliance of Boys & Girls & Separation Sunday & seeing them on tour, I've been more excited about Stay Positive's release than a five year old kid on Christmas Eve. Thankfully, this album doesn't disappoint one bit. I just kinda wonder if it's even healthy the amount I love these guys' music.
True, the mix is pretty raw, & they're obviously leaning towards a more punked-out sound than the smoothly produced Boys & Girls. But they've not forgotten the melodies, & most importantly the fun. Lots of reviews will talk about brilliant lyrics packed with intellectual reference points, but more important for me is the fact that The Hold Steady put the fun back into Rock. The genuine euphoria of their live sets shines through on this album, with the band as ever rejecting the trendy brooding battle-of-who-could-care-less that blights so much modern music - The Hold Steady are the next best thing to seeing The Boss himself live. And while the Springsteen comparisons linger, there's plenty more in the melting pot of their influences on this record. Anyone suggesting they're a one-shot wonder is pretty wide of the mark here, with songs as varied as Lord I'm Discouraged & Stay Positive on one album.
I'm torn though. Part of me has an evangelical zest to me about The Hold Steady. I just can't see why some of the dirge that gets into the mainstream could be favoured over this by anyone with a brain & two ears. But then, as another reviewer says, this record does take effort to get the utmost reward. Perhaps that's its attraction for me - music nerd, snob or whatever.
