Album: Clear Heart, Full Eyes
Year: 2012
Format: NPR First Listen
Grade: C+
The distinct, deep bar room croon of The Hold Steady's Craig Finn is as indelible as his penchant for clever, nuanced lyrics. It's what has defined Hold Steady's brand for the last decade.
Some of these traits carry over to Clear Heart, Full Eyes, the Minneapolis-born singer's debut solo effort.
As is to be expected, Clear Heart is lyrically precise, filled with characters real and imagined throughout his life. Jesus and the Bible are heavy influences, too, with the son of God both as his new friend, the butt of his jokes ("It's hard to catch with holes in your hands") and as the jury.
But for as sharp as his lyrics are, musically, Finn's first solo effort feels listless and unfocused. One wonders what element of these songs Finn felt did not or could not fit within The Hold Steady.
A country vibe that snakes through the record, biting into tracks as it pleases, with slide guitar whinnying through "Balcony" or "Western Pier," while "New Friend Jesus," "Terrified Eyes" and "Honolulu Blues" are twangy rockers.
But if you're not a Hold Steady devotee, there's little in Clear Heart that will make you reconsider that stance.
Tomorrow's entry: Laura Gibson, La Grande
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