Teeth Dreams

Another great set of songs & stories from The Hold Steady. However, Nick Raskulinecz just does not get that these guys are raw, stripped down bar band. Everything he produces is starting to sound the same: too much compression, the over processed vocals, the stadium sounding drum kit, and those modern-rock ready guitars. This is not THAT band! They're not going to get played on Modern Rock Radio and they are not going to play big concert halls. The sound of the record should be like their live sound. This one sounds a little too clever and polished for its own good.

This is the first Hold Steady album I've listened to. I can't compare it with their past work, but I find I listen to it a lot. The songs have great energy and diversity, interesting lyrics about usually down-in-the-dumps people, and a sharp two-guitar attack in which both guitarists trade licks like the Rolling Stones. Not quite melody and not quite harmony, both. Craig Finn's voice takes some getting used to...he's not really singing, more talking loudly on the melody. Of course, that's how Bob Dylan and Steve Earle sing too. Highlights for me are 'I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You,' 'Oaks,' and 'The Ambassador,' which features a great rhyme, 'she was staying at the Ambassador, not much diplomatic there.'Some commenters have said the vocals are too far back in the mix. When I listened in the car or a noisy setting, words were indistinct. When I listened to the vinyl on a quality system, words were clear. I think the producer mixed the sound for the more audio-friendly setting. It's not how a lot of music is mixed these days--mixing for headphone listening on iPhones means making the sound loud, with booming bass. I hope this sound is a trend. It reminds me of how music sounded in the sixties and seventies.

Been a long time fan of The Hold Steady and was really looking forward to this record. I wasn't too impressed with first single "I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You" and not thrilled about "Spinners". By the third track "The Only Thing", I had found the Hold Steady I know and love. One thing was nagging me though,the SOUND. I'm reminded of a remark that was made many years ago about an old J. Geils Band live album. I think it was "Showtime." It applies here. The drums sound like he's beating on cardboard boxes. Also, on what I believe to be Craig Finn's most beautiful song ever,there is his voice WAY OFF in the distance when I think the song would have been even more powerful had his great vocal performance been a lot CLOSER TO THE EAR. I'm talking about "Almost Everything". I still enjoyed this album very much but for some reason I kept thinking about mud.

Losing their signature keyboard riffs with the departure of Franz Nicolay could have killed this band, but after a slump with their previous album, Heaven is Whenever, they came roaring back on Teeth Dreams with a second guitarist a a new hard-rocking sound. The more generic rock-n-roll result may lose a few fans of their quirkier past style, but if you can roll with the changes, this album becomes as rewarding as anything they've done. As always, Craig Finn's dark, complex, ironic lyrics take center stage and lift this band into the indie-intellectual stratosphere. The drug-saturated 9-minute final cut, Oaks, shows Finn at his double-entendre best. Classic Steady sing-along standouts include Spinners and Wait a while, and there's not a bad track on the whole album.

As with any new introduction, listening once is not enough. And so it is with Teeth Dreams. It's classic Hold Steady, with a new fervor as well as some fine-tuning and depth. Kudos to Kubler for not being threatened by a second strong guitar player in Selvidge, instead having the vision to know how to enrich the band's overall sound. (Franz who???)As much as I love the hard, blasting rock 'n' roll, I find myself going back to The Ambassador — a haunting tune with both melody and lyrics that draw me in.How does Teeth compare to other Hold Steady releases? Hard to judge at this point, as each CD became my favorite for a time. All I can say is that it's been worth the wait.

Take Craig Finn's penchant for turning Springsteen-esque storytelling on its ear, crank-up the guitars, add some reckless abandoned, and you have the Hold Steady's "Teeth Dreams."After a 4 year absence from the studio, the time away has breathed renewed vigor into the band and makes this album one of their best. Lead single "Spinners" crackles with a sense of vibrancy missing on the band's last record. Favorite track, "Wait A While," with a knock-out hook, showcases what this outfit can do when the songwriting is tightened-up and allowed to steer ever-so-close to AOR material.Musically and lyrically raucous, "Teeth Dreams" is one of the best releases of 2014.

After Franz Nicolay left the band and Heaven Is Whenever stunk the place up I really wrote Hold Steady off. I was wrong. Very very wrong. All the great things about Hold Steady are back: musical and lyrical hooks, power, fun, intelligence, etc. Can't wait to see the band with Steve Selvidge (son of Alex Chilton alum Sid Selvidge, ex-Big Ass Truck).

The Hold Steady is great but even better on LP. This album rocks. It came in perfect condition and very quickly. A great add to any music lovers collection .