The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday
List Price:
Our Price: $8.68
You Save: $4.26 (33%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.90 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: The Hold SteadyBrand: Baker & Taylor
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2007-06-12
Music Label: Frenchkiss
Soundtracks:
- Hornets! Hornets!
- Cattle And The Creeping Things
- Your Little Hoodrat Friend
- Banging Camp
- Charlemagne In Sweatpants
- Stevie Nix
- Multitude Of Casualties
- Don't Let Me Explode
- Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
- Crucifixion Cruise
- How A Resurrection Really Feels
Free Music Notes for Separation Sunday
Free Music Review: One of the great albums of 2005
Hit: 5 Stars
Judging by some of the reviews here, this album was somewhat on the lame side. I, on the other hand, was blown away by it the second I heard it, and came to like it more and more as I listened to it again. When I did a Listmania of my 25 favorite albums of 2005, this made the list with ease, and would have made a Listmania entitled, "My Five Favorite CDs of 2005." I don't mind being the only person who loves an album (I think I'm among the few who think Stan Ridgway's PARTYBALL is a masterpiece, and I rate John Fahey's OF RIVERS AND RELIGION as among his best), but it just didn't seem to me that people who really loved and understood music could hate this album. So, I felt some relief when SEPARATION SUNDAY finished in the top ten of the most recent Village Voice annual Pazz and Jop Poll. For those unfamiliar with the Jop Poll, each year the Voice polls virtually ever critic in the world, asking them to vote for their favorite albums. So, to get into the top ten, an album has to have appeared pretty high on a vast number of ballots. Since this year's poll involved over seven hundred critics, it was clearly appreciated by a vast number of sophisticated admirers of music.
So, for those trying to decide whether they should give this a try, I would advise ignoring those who hate this album and even those who don't especially admire it. If you are fully advanced from Top Forty music listening, if Indie Rock is your favorite genre, you are going to love this album.
The heart of the Hold Steady is Craig Finn. You'd have to call him the band's shouter or declaimer, since he really doesn't sing. On all the songs on the entire album, he probably doesn't vary his voice more than a one or two note range. What he does is proclaim in a loud and slightly stylized voice the lyrics. I can see some people not enjoying his voice, and I must confess that sometimes I grow tired of it if I listen to the entire album in a sitting. He sings as if he were standing beside you in a crowded and very loud bar, shouting the lyrics in your ear. While his declamations are compelling, they aren't lovely and they aren't comforting to the ear, so I find that I enjoy the album best by dipping in and out of it. I have not seen the band live, but I have been assured by a friend that has that Finn is one of the best frontmen in indie rock today.
More controversial is how this album compares to the band's first album, ALMOST KILLED ME. From what I've read, it seems that many prefer the earlier album (though for what it is worth, ALMOST KILLED ME was #31 on the 2004 Pazz and Jop Poll, while SEPARATION SUNDAY is #8 on the 2005 one, though their not being as widely known in 2004, even among critics, could account for their better performance in the most recent one). My answer is that while one might have a preference for one or the other, there isn't sufficient difference between the two to justify or support or even remotely making sense of loving one and hating the other.
Aside from Finn's utterly unique voice, there are two reasons the Hold Steady is such an awesome act: the quality of the songs and the absolutely crack band that backs Finn. The songs on this album hang together, but what they hang together around is a series of personal tragedies. These are dark, bleak, unhappy songs, no matter if the songs are full of power and energy. One could almost call this a concept album, even if such a thing is rarely practiced these days by people not named by Sufjan Stevens. But even if they do interrelate, the songs are also superb on their own. You could put the opening cut, the oddly titled "Hornets! Hornets!" on almost any radio and blow most away your listeners. Just how good this album is can be shown that after the awesome first cut it surges into "Cattle and the Creeping Things," which is not one of the very best cuts on the album, and not notice any drop in quality whatsoever. But as good as the first two songs are, they are just a shadow of how good "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" is, my favorite song on the album. Lord, this song rocks! If you love a song about broken, fragmented individual backed up with driving dual guitars, then you'll find this irresistible. Other highlights on the album include the unexpected "Stevie Nicks" and the final song on the album, "How a Resurrection Really Feels."
By any standard the Hold Steady produced one of the best albums of both 2004 and 2005. They may have to retool before we get another album from them, but if at the end of 2007 we say that they produced one of the best albums of that year, we just might have to declare these guys one of the great bands in the world.
Separation Sunday Poster
flexfield5It's only natural that the Hold Steady singer Craig Finn receives all the attention. After all, he's the one with the big mouth. And while his odd and humorous rants are essentially compelling, they wouldn't be half as engrossing if his backing group, especially fellow ex-Minnesotan and Lifter Puller guitarist Tad Kubler, didn't smack up such a glorious din, scabrous punk rock swagger dolled up with classic hard rock power chords. "Separation Sunday" is the NYC-based group's second album and it's every bit as sassy and city wise as their 2004 debut "Almost Killed Me." Finn doesn't know the meaning of the phrase 'hold your tongue' and rudely shouts down the opposition on a number of romantic and religious matters, underscoring his contempt with touching moments of true pathos. Finn's surrounded by self-mutilators, abused lovers and deluded characters desperately chasing faith. It's a good thing he has such a crack band to keep them all in check. -- Jaan Uhelszki
Alternative Rock Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Alternative Rock Music CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $397.77
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $199.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Titus Andronicus - MonitorRelease date: 2010-03-09; Music CD
Best price: $6.25
Price in other shops:
The Gaslight Anthem - Sink or SwimGASLIGHT ANTHEM; Release date: 2008-07-08; Music CD
Best price: $7.82
Price in other shops:
Fucked Up - David Comes to LifeRelease date: 2011-06-07; Music CD
Best price: $9.49
Price in other shops:
The Horrible Crowes - ElsieRelease date: 2011-09-06; Music CD
Best price: $9.58
Price in other shops:
Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full EyesRelease date: 2012-01-24; Music CD
Best price: $6.91
Price in other shops:
Hold Steady - Positive Rage (W/ Dvd) (Bril)Release date: 2009-04-07; Music CD
Best price: $10.41
Price in other shops:
The Hold Steady - Almost Killed MeRelease date: 2007-06-12; Music CD
Best price: $7.63
Price in other shops:
Hold Steady - Heaven Is WheneverVagrant Records; Release date: 2010-05-04; Music CD
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Hold Steady - Stay PositiveBaker & Taylor; Release date: 2008-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $8.08
Price in other shops:
The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in AmericaRelease date: 2006-10-03; Music CD
Best price: $4.79
Price in other shops: