Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
ie8 fix
Stay Positive - The Hold Steady
Stay Positive Image
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 88 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: This is the fourth album for the Brooklyn, New York, indie rock quintet.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Uncut
    100
    Staggeringly good.
  2. Slant Magazine
    100
    It is not only the Hold Steady's best record, but acts as a culmination of all of the ideas, stories, musical paths and character journeys that they've so pointedly led us down before.
  3. All Music Guide
    60
    Stay Positive is the most sophisticated and erudite THS have ever sounded, and that's a mixed blessing.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 55
  3. Negative: 9 out of 55
  1. ArchieS
    10
    Wow what an album!!! This has to be one of the best albums i've ever heard. Consistently good, no amazing! No duds, serious. If you like good old fashion rock n roll you'll like this. If you like music lyrically dense and quality, you'll like this. If you love music, you'll love this!!!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. LesH
    5
    But for how heralded these guys are – constructive summer – a song compared to celebrated summer and springsteen-meets-husker by the tastemakers of the music world – this voice – this song – is basically dramarama. Its all dramarama. Hardly groundbreaking, and hardly worth the high praise – its good – lyrically maybe a bit smarter – but I’m willing to bet for all the elitist rock fans out there who praise hold steady – they wouldn’t dare give dramarama the nod. I don’t even like dramarama that much – I have the “best” of – as they were always compared to the ‘mats way back when – though really only ‘anything anything’ and ‘last cigarette’ floats my boat. Hold Steady good; but not 84 pfork, 85 metacritic good.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. NickC.
    3
    The Hold Steady tried to change things up and failed miserably. Stay Positive leaves very little to stay positive about. I would rather listen to the brokerdealer than this shit.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 55 User Reviews

Recommended Products

  1. Almost Killed Me - The Hold Steady

    • Release Date: Apr 20, 2004
    Almost Killed Me Image

  2. A Positive Rage - The Hold Steady

    • Release Date: Apr 7, 2009
    A Positive Rage Image

  3. Heaven Is Whenever - The Hold Steady

    • Release Date: May 4, 2010
    Heaven Is Whenever Image

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Tago Mago [40th Anniversary Edition] - Can
    Metascore: 99
  2. Live in Europe 1967: Best of the Bootleg, Vol. 1 - Miles Davis
    Metascore: 99
  3. Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 96
  4. The SMiLE Sessions - The Beach Boys
    Metascore: 96
  5. National Treasures: The Complete Singles - Manic Street Preachers
    Metascore: 95
  6. Achtung Baby [Super Deluxe] - U2
    Metascore: 93
  7. Some Girls [Deluxe Edition] - The Rolling Stones
    Metascore: 93
  8. Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down - Ry Cooder
    Metascore: 92
  9. Unto the Locust - Machine Head
    Metascore: 91
  10. Quadrophenia [The Director's Cut] - The Who
    Metascore: 90
  11. Rio [Live] - Keith Jarrett
    Metascore: 90
  12. Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet
    Metascore: 90
  13. What Were You Hoping For? - Van Hunt
    Metascore: 90
  14. Charity Starts at Home - Phonte
    Metascore: 89
  15. Nevermind [20th Anniversary Edition] - Nirvana
    Metascore: 89
  16. Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller, Vol. 1 - Drexciya
    Metascore: 88
  17. Bad as Me - Tom Waits
    Metascore: 88
  18. The Singles - Goldfrapp
    Metascore: 88
  19. Undun - The Roots
    Metascore: 88
  20. The Wonder Years - 9th Wonder
    Metascore: 87
All Current Music »