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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Oct 28, 2011Just some awesome American Rock music with guitars galore. Classic Rock bands like Bruce Springsteen come to mind while listening to this record. I can't recommend this enough.
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Mar 28, 2011
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Sep 3, 2010A bit of a change for the Hold Steady. Putting their feet in Brooklyn, they are adapting to a little New York sound but remain steadily themselves. Not as exciting, however, than some previous albums.
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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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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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demostDec 27, 2008The Hold Steady has consistently hit the mark since Separation Sunday and Stay Positive is certainly no exception. The stories are rich and the melodies are more mature than previous albums. The Hold Steady is this generation's Springsteen, while casting a more realistic reflection of the time.
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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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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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LoganFDec 8, 2008The Hold Steady reiterate themselves lyrically a lot, it's good for connection with a long time listener, but the tunes don't beat the last three albums.
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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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JayDOct 14, 2008Album of the year, without doubt. Also, Brendan D is a 'tard. "seminally overrated"? Get over yourself.
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StephenCSep 3, 2008
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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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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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CharlieQ.Aug 18, 2008This is one of the years top albums. The storytelling quality of the lyrics is riveting. The music, while nothing new, is played with a heartfelt intensity that's impossible to deny. There's a very natural & instinctive feel about the whole album. It's a pure rock album which wasn't made for the masses, but should appeal to them.
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BasV.Aug 17, 2008Kick ass record! The hard part is making it look so easy.
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bdaAug 12, 2008Positive: Finn's lyrics are as good as ever, the dearth of Minnesota references notwithstanding. Not so positive: Like Boys and Girls in America, there's too much keyboard.
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JordanS.Aug 11, 2008Best album of the year so far.
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SteveOAug 1, 2008It's listenable, but i agree... we've all heard this stuff before! Same old power chords, same old, same old. Try something new please!
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JoshL.Jul 28, 2008One of the best albums of the year!
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JoeJul 27, 2008
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EricN.Jul 25, 2008
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ToddG.Jul 21, 2008
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HarryS.Jul 18, 2008Never cease to amaze.
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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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JasonJJul 18, 2008
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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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GinaS.Jul 17, 2008
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JohnH.Jul 17, 2008These guys are incredible - and this album in particular kicks ass!
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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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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.