User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 95 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 76 out of 95
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Mixed: 7 out of 95
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Negative: 12 out of 95
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JsdonqWOct 14, 2008Great album... Constructive summer kicks things off perfectly and Slapped Actress continues the Hold Steady tradition of having epic finishing songs on albums.
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JimmyJul 15, 2008This is the most fun album the has been released this year.
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MichaelV.Jul 16, 2008Had to build my own chill-out tent to recover from my first listen of "Stay Positive". Brilliant lyrically and musically, I may need an intervention.
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ArchieSJan 3, 2009Wow 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!!!
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MarkS.Jul 15, 2008
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EricN.Jul 25, 2008
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JordanS.Aug 11, 2008Best album of the year so far.
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StephenCSep 3, 2008
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JayDOct 14, 2008Album of the year, without doubt. Also, Brendan D is a 'tard. "seminally overrated"? Get over yourself.
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TrevorZ.Jul 15, 2008So! Good! It's insane how consistently good this band is.
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ChrisKJul 15, 2008Another brilliant album. "Separation Sunday" is still my favorite, but this one is just as killer.
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JohnH.Jul 17, 2008These guys are incredible - and this album in particular kicks ass!
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GinaS.Jul 17, 2008
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JasonJJul 18, 2008
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BrianR.Jul 18, 2008The Hold Steady went for a bigger deeper sound than on previous albums. It pays off on almost every song.
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JoshL.Jul 28, 2008One of the best albums of the year!
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SteveSDec 29, 2008THS come through with not only the best rock album of 2008, but one of the finest this century.
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IsaacO.Jul 14, 2008in reality, this is about an 8+, rather than 9. It's the weakest of all their albums. That said, it's still better than 90% of the rest of the music that has come out this year. or is likely to come out.
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HarryS.Jul 18, 2008Never cease to amaze.
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JakeBAug 26, 2008The Hold Steady proove yet again that they are one of the best bands in America. On Stay Posotive they tried to expand their sound and did so with great achievment. Althouthg some of the songs fall short, (Navy Sheets, Yeah Saphire) the rest are as good as it gets. The Bonus Tracks are also phenomenal arguably the best songs on the record.
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MattS.Jul 14, 2008
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PatJul 15, 2008I don't know what the reviewer from Spin was smoking, because this is in no way mellower than any other Hold Steady release. It's a great followup to the absolutely classic Boys & Girls In America, and together they are an almost perfect 1-2 punch of good old-fashioned, roll-the-windows-down-and-crank-it rock. Great album.
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MaxC.Jul 16, 2008Not their best but any Hold Steady record is better than just about any non-Hold Steady record these days.
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MycroftW.Jul 17, 2008One of the most likable bands out there shows consistency with another triumph. The Hold Steady is well on the way to become the Drive By Truckers of the big city.
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StephenL.Jul 17, 2008Really, really amazing. Constructive Summer might be one of the best songs I've heard in a long, long time. Classic rock. Go buy or at least download. The experience will justify itself.
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JoeJul 27, 2008
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BasV.Aug 17, 2008Kick ass record! The hard part is making it look so easy.
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TonyPAug 28, 2008Forget the naysayers - this is the best album of the year so far from a fantastic live band who have no airs and graces - they just make great rock music with great stories.
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AndrewCDec 12, 2008Let's agree these guys are good at one thing, old fashioned rocking. This isn't groundbreaking or anything incredibly different. I can always count on these guys for a great rock record and amazing lyrics. This is probably my favorite record they've released. Just too solid all the way through. No skippers! Great record!!
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GuillaumeBDec 23, 2008The Hold Steady is why good old simple rocking goods, and then some, are still around. And they deserve a damn big round of applause for their work.
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Awards & Rankings
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Ultimately, Stay Positive achieves the admirable feat of being a record you can listen closely to or rock out to, equally adaptable to late-night wallowing and the party at the water tower.
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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.
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Despite some subtle new touches --a harpsichord, a banjo, light strings--the sound proposes constancy.