Craig Finn Clear Heart Full Eyes |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Apollo Bay
2. When No One's Watching
3. No Future
4. New Friend Jesus
5. Jackson
6. Terrified Eyes
7. Western Pier
8. Honolulu Blues
9. Rented Room
10. Balcony
11. Not Much Left of Us
Release Date: 01/24/2012 | |
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On 6 Lists
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| Summary: ...the hero that you are when no one's watching. |
If Craig Finn's reflection in the beer bottles round The Hold Steady's table is one of stuttering animation and brief moments of clarity, removed from his band he appears considerably less cavalier, content to interject when the conversation fades or the protagonists of his stories pause to take another drag of their cigarettes. Not that his storytelling lacks any of its usual incision - every line feels just as lived-in as ever - but on Clear Heart Full Eyes he falls into his music slightly, allowing its more laid-back tone to do a little bit of the talking for him, and leaving more unsaid in general.
The songs situate themselves later in the evening, after all the explosions, when the thinking's done and the buzz is wearing off. Their guitars rumble and dip, considerably less urgent and punchy than those of his full-time band, and Finn sounds suitably contemplative; there is an ambience to this record which replaces the exuberant atmosphere he usually finds himself amongst, and his shouts follow the same dampened curve, though they never drop anywhere close to whispers.
The effects of this change of pace and tone are twofold; the characters Finn laments get more space in which to grow, away from the panicked chords of Hold Steady anthems, but they also find themselves with a shakier raison d'être - whether you can find somewhere for these songs to go depends on your own mental construction of these people and their scenery. It drifts, at points, but not without a deep chord to make you wonder, and though its transitions sometimes feel slightly misplaced, it's no form of posturing; Clear Heart Full Eyes is entirely at ease with itself, rarely forcing the issue beyond the gently affecting, but
affecting is definitely the right word. It goes down smooth.
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Album Rating: 3.5
Ya can stream this at
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/15/144960565/first-listen-craig-finn-clear-heart-full-eyes
- it's lovely.
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Album Rating: 3.5
Hmmm I may give this a go. I can't pretend to be a fan of The Hold Steady.
Digging: The Walkmen - Heaven Digging: The Walkmen - Heaven |
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Album Rating: 3.5
I didn't know Finn had a solo career...
excited for this. Hold Steady is one hell of a band.
Digging: Josh Garrels - Love and War and The Sea In Between Digging: Josh Garrels - Love and War and The Sea In Between |
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Album Rating: 3.5
He didn't until now!
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Album Rating: 3.5
Ali, this is so much more your thing than THS is - although still not sure how much.
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Album Rating: 3.5
Ok, I'll give it a go, The Horrible Crowes rec is promising.
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Album Rating: 4
fuck yeah, need to hear this. jackson is a pretty sweet song and any sputniker who doesn't listen to the hold steady is a disappointment.
good review mr. knott.
Digging: The Dopamines - Vices Digging: The Dopamines - Vices |
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Album Rating: 3.5
Jackson is one of my least favourite songs on the record.
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Album Rating: 4
cool cool. that's just the only one i've heard so far. i dig the quintessential finn callback ("the back half of the theatre"). i know a lot of people get sick of the self-referencing and shit but i like it.
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oh shit...did knott know this leaked. Can you hook me up with the link?
But ya I love the self-referencing really adds to the world they build.
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Album Rating: 3.5
It's streaming MILES.
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Album Rating: 3.5
"oh shit...did knott know this leaked."
nice pun. props.
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Album Rating: 3.5
You must be new here.
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...it's an awful pun I should probably be banned for it.
I hate streams.
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Album Rating: 4
He has a solo career???
Must get!
Digging: Swarms - Low Sun EP Digging: Swarms - Low Sun EP |
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Album Rating: 4
Also, is that release date correct? Or should it be 2012?
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Album Rating: 3.5
2012, obviously. Clearly, I'm stuck in the past.
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weird that I didnt even know this was coming out will jam for sure Hold Steady are the best band ever.
Digging: Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction
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and Christ KNott youre a good writer.
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knott you are one of the best writers on this site. Never dug The Hold Steady much but this is sounding pre cool
Digging: Hard Jams Inc. - Mars Volta False Prog Digging: Hard Jams Inc. - Mars Volta False Prog
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