So, I'm catching up with my tivo and just finished watching Julianne Moore and Madonna on Letterman when this band called The Hold Steady came on...

Visually this band is horrid...They are the geekiest rock band I have eve seen. But something endured me to their sound. Its odd...but catchy. And I love their heavy use of pianos...

So, does anyone here follow these guys? The talk/singing kinda grated so I'm not totally sold on the band...is that their signature sound? Anyone heard the entire album? Worth getting?

I started following them a few years back when their previous album Separation Sunday received a lot of acclaim. I didn't take to them at first, mostly because they have a fair bit of Springsteen-style bombast to their music, and sounds like that generally don't sit well with me. I've really come to love them, though; their latest album is really excellent, easily one of my favourites from last year and one of the most critically acclaimed records as well. It's not the most profound or challenging music you'll encounter, but they do make very exciting, straight-forward, anthemic rock music.
[Edited 1/13/07 10:00am]

Damo and I seem to be the only ones around here who geek out about them. Separation Sunday is my favorite, it's less "bombastic" as he puts it, a little more punky. I know what both of you mean though, there's something about them that should be kind of lame, but somehow, they're great. I think it's in the lyrics. He does sing like that pretty much all the time, but I got used to it eventually.
[Edited 1/13/07 7:51am]

sosgemini said:

I did find the vocals difficult to get past - I'm used to them now and they don't trouble me in the least, but if they're really not your cuppa tea they could keep you from liking the band because that sound is constant in pretty much every song.

MendesCity said:

I seem to recall at least one or two other folks giving them a mention on one of the year-end threads...or maybe I'm imagining things...

damosuzuki said:

I hope so, they deserve it! Btw, I'm just finally getting into the Pernice Bros. CD...songs are finally sinking in, I like it

MendesCity said:

Glad to hear it! It is a bit of a grower, isn't it? I think part of the problem might be that I found the first three tracks to be among the weaker songs - not terrible, but it wasn't until Zero Refills that you reach a track that I really love. I do think it's a bit of a comedown from their previous records, but it's still a very fine album.

Have you ever heard the Scud Mountain Boys album?