Almost Killed Me - The Hold Steady
Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. Stylus Magazine
    70
    The Hold Steady, then, is not yet an outstanding band, but unlike its New York contemporaries, shows the sort of distinctive talent that suggests that one day, it might be.
  2. Pitchfork
    80
    Earnest without being sentimental, and authentic without sounding contrived, The Hold Steady are one of the most convincing rock bands to emerge in recent years, a can-crushing throwdown of unadulterated aggression and ear-splitting amps.
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    100
    Almost Killed Me is the most authentic, dirty, and rocking album you'll hear all summer.
  4. All Music Guide
    90
    With rugged guitar riffs and solos and Finn's half-sung, scratchy voice, the Hold Steady mostly succeed, easily recalling the classic rock of early Bruce Springsteen or the sincerity of latter-day Hüsker Dü.
  5. Drowned In Sound
    80
    'Almost Killed Me' is a rock album that is – above all – listenable and fucking energetic but never calculated and never sneering.
  6. Neumu.net
    95
    Rocks like Bad Company and Thin Lizzy and vintage Springsteen. Look out.
  7. Delusions of Adequacy
    80
    All in all this is a rock-solid debut from a group of veteran musicians who aren't necessarily out to reinvent the wheel but whose fiery passion rings through on every note.
  8. The A.V. Club
    80
    The Hold Steady's powerful yet somewhat generic rock style proves incidental to Finn's dense, wordy story-songs. As a whole, though, Almost Killed Me showcases a wise and gritty rock band still in it for life, through thick and thin.
  9. Splendid
    60
    A band more fixated with guitar solos and drunken fist-pumping than in the more nuanced, desperate territory of their former incarnation [Lifter Puller].
  10. Rolling Stone
    70
    Bizarrely touching and insanely original. [10 Jun 2004, p.86]
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  11. Alternative Press
    40
    Finn employs an arrhythmic delivery... sounding like Jello Biafra covering Talking Head's "Once In A Lifetime," or a snake-oil huckster participating in a poetry slam. [May 2004, p.96]
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  12. PopMatters
    80
    Review 1: After "Killer Parties", you realize that the band is far greater than the sum of its parts. And far better than it should be. [score=80]; Review 2: The Hold Steady is as solid a rock band as any around. [score=80]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. j30
    8
    A garage band feel that's as raw as anything you'll hear. I really enjoyed this record. The album was best when listened to a third time through.
  2. BD
    9
    Better than Separation Sunday.
  3. RayRay
    8
    Wow, this album was unexpected. The lead singer sounds like an amalgam of Bon Scott (ACDC) and Jello from the Dead Kennedys. Which is definitely a good thing.… Full Review »
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