Stay Positive
by The Hold Steady
  • Record Label: Vagrant
  • Release Date: Jul 15, 2008
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 95 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 95
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 95
  3. Negative: 12 out of 95

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. JsdonqW
    Oct 14, 2008
    10
    Great album... Constructive summer kicks things off perfectly and Slapped Actress continues the Hold Steady tradition of having epic finishing songs on albums.
  2. Jimmy
    Jul 15, 2008
    10
    This is the most fun album the has been released this year.
  3. MichaelV.
    Jul 16, 2008
    10
    Had 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.
  4. ArchieS
    Jan 3, 2009
    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!!!
  5. MarkS.
    Jul 15, 2008
    10
    Party on Wayne, party on Garth, party on America! "Stay Positive" brings back memories of all the times that my buddy and I prepared the party site in the woods - you know, the railroad ties, bonfire, kegger - and then ended up rocking in a teenage wasted utopia with all our high school friends. Bruce Springsteen was taking America by storm being on the cover of Time and Newsweek the same Party on Wayne, party on Garth, party on America! "Stay Positive" brings back memories of all the times that my buddy and I prepared the party site in the woods - you know, the railroad ties, bonfire, kegger - and then ended up rocking in a teenage wasted utopia with all our high school friends. Bruce Springsteen was taking America by storm being on the cover of Time and Newsweek the same week, and Jimmy Carter was dealing with a different type of oil crisis. Craig and company pay homage to all that and more, and have recorded their best album to date in doing so.… Expand
  6. EricN.
    Jul 25, 2008
    10
    Stay Positive is my favourite The Hold Steady album, even better than Separation Sunday and that's saying something. I like the maturity and world-weariness in Craig Finn's voice this time around and the band has never been tighter. Franz Nicolay's keyboards, rather than overpowering the mix like they did on Boys and Girls complement the songs so well. Anyone who comments Stay Positive is my favourite The Hold Steady album, even better than Separation Sunday and that's saying something. I like the maturity and world-weariness in Craig Finn's voice this time around and the band has never been tighter. Franz Nicolay's keyboards, rather than overpowering the mix like they did on Boys and Girls complement the songs so well. Anyone who comments that the songs all sound the same just haven't spent any time with this album. The variety of music here is amazing. I was listening to some old Lifter Puller tunes yesterday -- and to see where Finn started out and where he is today is like watching an epic movie unfold. Simply outstanding. If you've never heard this band, pick up this album, listen to it 3-4 times with the lyrics in hand and prepare to be swept away. You will be a fan for life.… Expand
  7. JordanS.
    Aug 11, 2008
    10
    Best album of the year so far.
  8. StephenC
    Sep 3, 2008
    10
    I'm sorry nut the Hold Steady have not tried to change one thing on this album.. They've continued with their tried and tested form and it works brilliantly. The song writing is magnificent and the story telling on 'Sequested In Memphis' is staggering. If these are classed as "boring and overrated" then you need to have a big long look at your life, because something I'm sorry nut the Hold Steady have not tried to change one thing on this album.. They've continued with their tried and tested form and it works brilliantly. The song writing is magnificent and the story telling on 'Sequested In Memphis' is staggering. If these are classed as "boring and overrated" then you need to have a big long look at your life, because something is wrong with you.… Expand
  9. JayD
    Oct 14, 2008
    10
    Album of the year, without doubt. Also, Brendan D is a 'tard. "seminally overrated"? Get over yourself.
  10. TrevorZ.
    Jul 15, 2008
    10
    So! Good! It's insane how consistently good this band is.
  11. ChrisK
    Jul 15, 2008
    10
    Another brilliant album. "Separation Sunday" is still my favorite, but this one is just as killer.
  12. JohnH.
    Jul 17, 2008
    10
    These guys are incredible - and this album in particular kicks ass!
  13. GinaS.
    Jul 17, 2008
    10
    Great songs! The album has an overall epic feeling to it. It rocks, with some great guitar solos thrown in. They remind me a lot of R.E.M., on their latest, Accelerate, with some Bruce Springsteen and the E- street Band and a sprinkling of Randy Neuman thrown in for good measure. Definately one of the best albums of the year! Pay attention to the lyrics, as a haunting story unfolds. I Great songs! The album has an overall epic feeling to it. It rocks, with some great guitar solos thrown in. They remind me a lot of R.E.M., on their latest, Accelerate, with some Bruce Springsteen and the E- street Band and a sprinkling of Randy Neuman thrown in for good measure. Definately one of the best albums of the year! Pay attention to the lyrics, as a haunting story unfolds. I find it impossible to find anything negative about "Stay Positive". We gotta stay positive!… Expand
  14. JasonJ
    Jul 18, 2008
    10
    The Hold Steady is not just a band. They are a conceptual project whose aim is nothing less than a complete renovation of what it means to believe in this day and age. Through the sheer strength of their will and talent, they are able to summon everyone from Springsteen, to Zep, even .38 Special, all without a hint of irony. They're actually sincere; and therein lies the magic. You The Hold Steady is not just a band. They are a conceptual project whose aim is nothing less than a complete renovation of what it means to believe in this day and age. Through the sheer strength of their will and talent, they are able to summon everyone from Springsteen, to Zep, even .38 Special, all without a hint of irony. They're actually sincere; and therein lies the magic. You are missing the point if you are hung up on the so-called "classic rock" aspects of their sound. They cannot logically be classic rock because they are making this music NOW! And I have to say, it couldn't be more refreshing. This is probably their best record, but the last three were also sickeningly good. Warning: listening to them will make it hard to listen to other bands.… Expand
  15. BrianR.
    Jul 18, 2008
    10
    The Hold Steady went for a bigger deeper sound than on previous albums. It pays off on almost every song.
  16. JoshL.
    Jul 28, 2008
    10
    One of the best albums of the year!
  17. SteveS
    Dec 29, 2008
    10
    THS come through with not only the best rock album of 2008, but one of the finest this century.
  18. IsaacO.
    Jul 14, 2008
    9
    in 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.
  19. HarryS.
    Jul 18, 2008
    9
    Never cease to amaze.
  20. JakeB
    Aug 26, 2008
    9
    The 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.
  21. MattS.
    Jul 14, 2008
    9
    After three albums that all register a perfect 10 in my book, it's not all that surprising that these guys would eventually drop a 9. But when your band's weakest album is also one of the best releases of the year, you probably don't have too much to worry about. Really, my only complaint here is that Craig's characteristic sing/speak delivery sometimes leans a bit too After three albums that all register a perfect 10 in my book, it's not all that surprising that these guys would eventually drop a 9. But when your band's weakest album is also one of the best releases of the year, you probably don't have too much to worry about. Really, my only complaint here is that Craig's characteristic sing/speak delivery sometimes leans a bit too far in the sing direction (a bit further than on Boys and Girls, which I thought struck a perfect balance). That aside, his lyrics here are as incredible as ever, the band has never sounded better, and the album - hell, their entire catalogue to date - achieves greater cohesiveness and more consistency than most artists can sustain over the course of a single song. There is not a better rock n' roll band anywhere. Go see them live immediately.… Expand
  22. Pat
    Jul 15, 2008
    9
    I 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.
  23. MaxC.
    Jul 16, 2008
    9
    Not their best but any Hold Steady record is better than just about any non-Hold Steady record these days.
  24. MycroftW.
    Jul 17, 2008
    9
    One 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.
  25. StephenL.
    Jul 17, 2008
    9
    Really, 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.
  26. Joe
    Jul 27, 2008
    9
    I officially consider the Hold Steady my favorite modern band. There has been a pretty big void for me since Weezer stopped making real songs. The album is everything you want in an album. Catchy, unpretentious, smart, modern, clever, and its actually pretty rockin'. I have never considered anyone pop/rock artist a better lyricist than Elvis Costello but a few more albums like this I officially consider the Hold Steady my favorite modern band. There has been a pretty big void for me since Weezer stopped making real songs. The album is everything you want in an album. Catchy, unpretentious, smart, modern, clever, and its actually pretty rockin'. I have never considered anyone pop/rock artist a better lyricist than Elvis Costello but a few more albums like this and I would be comfortable saying that. I can't imagine giving any album a 10 besides Abbey Road or My Aim is True but this is about the closest thing to it.… Expand
  27. BasV.
    Aug 17, 2008
    9
    Kick ass record! The hard part is making it look so easy.
  28. TonyP
    Aug 28, 2008
    9
    Forget 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.
  29. AndrewC
    Dec 12, 2008
    9
    Let'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!!
  30. GuillaumeB
    Dec 23, 2008
    9
    The 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.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Album of 2008
30
#30 Most Discussed Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Boston Globe
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  3. The New York Times
    80
    Despite some subtle new touches --a harpsichord, a banjo, light strings--the sound proposes constancy.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »