Boys And Girls in America

Not sure what makes this stand out to the other 2000s Rock. Not bad, but just not very noteworthy to me.

Not jiving with this one at all, even if ‘80s rock revival was having a moment in the late aughts. The instrumentals sound dated on arrival, and though there are few bright spots in the arrangements creatively, the vocals sink any interest I may have had after that point.

I remember when the record came out. It was their third album, but it was the first one that everyone started talking about. Their heartland rock, epic rock reminiscent of 70s Springsteen and that bigger-than-life music that was so rare to hear from a new band in the mid-00s left us all impressed. I always felt like their music lacked songs, themes and melodies that you could really hold on to. But just for their musical conception, their brilliant narrative and for being such a rare bird, they deserved their moment of glory, short but intense

boring rock. dude can't sing. 2/5.

This had a good vibe. Period.

This actually was a very entertaining listening experience! Musically probably not very groundbreaking, and I know of bands that do this even better, but this sound immediately hit my musical sweet-spot. "Gonna walk around and drink some more!" Heck yeah!

This sounds like the lead singer from Soul Coughing lost all interest in jazz and became obsessed with drugs.

Love this album. 4 stars.

5/10. I see why they're called the Hold Steady—the sound and subject matter hardly varied at all over the course of the album. It was still enjoyable enough, but better for a song than an album

I always like this band just fine but it does seem like very much a Springsteen shtick with not as talented a vocalist.

Whatever my conclusions, the Hold Steady are honest about some aspect of life in this country. The quote that frames it comes from On The Road, which - fair enough - I had a similar ambiguous reaction to, preceded by anticipation. I guess there is an emotional problem, and a structural one, cooperating. Bleakness need not ruin an album concept, but it is challenging to work into the Song. And that craft arrives, tacked-on and ultimately not satisfying; not dissatisfying either. An amusical experience I'm grateful enough to have had.

Hey man I get it. You did some drugs. You’ve listened to Springsteen. You don’t have to rub it in my face. I’m into the tunes but exhausted by the imagery

I really really really enjoyed this. Reminds me a LOT of The Mountain Goats. Listened to it on a Friday, forgot to rate it, listened to it again on a Monday and liked it even more the second time.

Brilliant record.