“The fifth Hold Steady album loses departing flamboyant keyboardist Franz Nicolay and replaces anthemic, fist-pumping choruses with a more reflective, thoughtful sound. Craig Finn is storytelling less and waxing nostalgic more, often casting himself as an elder statesman: ‘I know what you’re going through, I went through it, too.’ While they can still pull off a stupendous rocker like the brass-tinged ‘Our Whole Lives,’ ‘Hurricane J’ and ‘The Smidge’ suggest the band’s well of chugging riffs and guitar solos will eventually run dry. However, this transitional album indicates there is more in their locker.” – Dave Simpson, The Guardian
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