29-01-2012, 13:20
online listen
love this guys voice, although not much range
country flavor helps on some tracks
excellent lyrics and delivery
tied for best of the year
on the list
1.9 from me and a converted 2.4 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - Honolulu Blues
Craig Finn - Honolulu Blues - YouTube
released Jan 24th, 2012
![[Image: r01418am27l.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drr000/r014/r01418am27l.jpg)
Bio - from allmusic
Perhaps best known as the singer of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn is a Minnesota-bred singer, songwriter, and
guitarist based out of New York City. Combining literary influences like Jack Kerouac and John Berryman with the
musical influences of Bruce Springsteen and fellow Minnesotan Paul Westerberg, Finn's highly descriptive lyrical
style has a focus on narrative, crafting whole worlds for the people in his songs to exist within. In 1994, the
singer put this style to work with the indie rock band Lifter Puller, refining his craft over the course of their
three albums before the band called it quits in 2000. After the band dissolved, Finn relocated from the Twin Cities
to New York, where he would collaborate with producer Mr. Projectile on the short-lived project the Brokerdealer in
2001 before eventually reuniting with Lifter Puller bassist Tad Kubler to form the Hold Steady in 2004. While the
band's whiskey-fueled bar rock sound was a departure from the angular, synth-filled sounds of Lifter Puller, Finn's
lyrically dense storytelling style remained intact, making the Hold Steady the thinking man's bar band. After five
albums with the band, the singer and songwriter tried his hand at a solo album during some downtime from his main
project, and in 2012 released Clear Heart Full Eyes through Vagrant Records.
Album Review - from allmusic
Whether heâs spinning tales of arson and murder over the angular, synth-kissed indie rock of Lifter Puller, or
recounting the excesses and fatal flaws of his fictional Twin Cities denizen with the Hold Steadyâs swagger-filled
bar rock behind him, Craig Finn has always had a way of blending in with whatever music heâs accompanied by without
losing his writerly voice. With its mellow, lonely sound, Finnâs solo debut, Clear Heart Full Eyes, finds the
songwriter looking for a change of sonic scenery that feels more like a vacation from his other work than a
departure, with the singer maintaining his identity as a songwriter as he adapts to a more distinctly country
sound. Over the course of its 11 tracks, the album unfolds like a series of vacation snapshots that show Finn being
himself in a new locale. Unsurprisingly, the singer is able to deftly adapt to his new surroundings, with his
narrative, story-filled lyrics taking on a newfound earnestness that reflects the plaintive strains of pedal steel
that weaves in and out of these more restrained arrangements. This ability to meld with, rather than take over, the
songs heâs on is a testament to Finnâs abilities not just as a lyricist and a singer, but as a raconteur. Finnâs
guileless, observational create a clean, engrossing narrative that allows listeners to escape into another world
for a few minutes at a time. Though this kind of approach doesnât leave a whole lot up to interpretation, its
directness gives you the opportunity to contemplate the âwho,â âwhere,â when,â and âwhyâ of the songs rather than
just the âwhat.â Anyone expecting the bar rock bravado of the Hold Steady is probably going to be disappointed by
Clear Heart Full Eyesâ subdued vibe, but anyone looking for more of Craig Finnâs sprawling tales will feel right at
home.
Track Listing
1. Apollo Bay
2. When No Ones 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
love this guys voice, although not much range
country flavor helps on some tracks
excellent lyrics and delivery
tied for best of the year
on the list
1.9 from me and a converted 2.4 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - Honolulu Blues
Craig Finn - Honolulu Blues - YouTube
released Jan 24th, 2012
Bio - from allmusic
Perhaps best known as the singer of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn is a Minnesota-bred singer, songwriter, and
guitarist based out of New York City. Combining literary influences like Jack Kerouac and John Berryman with the
musical influences of Bruce Springsteen and fellow Minnesotan Paul Westerberg, Finn's highly descriptive lyrical
style has a focus on narrative, crafting whole worlds for the people in his songs to exist within. In 1994, the
singer put this style to work with the indie rock band Lifter Puller, refining his craft over the course of their
three albums before the band called it quits in 2000. After the band dissolved, Finn relocated from the Twin Cities
to New York, where he would collaborate with producer Mr. Projectile on the short-lived project the Brokerdealer in
2001 before eventually reuniting with Lifter Puller bassist Tad Kubler to form the Hold Steady in 2004. While the
band's whiskey-fueled bar rock sound was a departure from the angular, synth-filled sounds of Lifter Puller, Finn's
lyrically dense storytelling style remained intact, making the Hold Steady the thinking man's bar band. After five
albums with the band, the singer and songwriter tried his hand at a solo album during some downtime from his main
project, and in 2012 released Clear Heart Full Eyes through Vagrant Records.
Album Review - from allmusic
Whether heâs spinning tales of arson and murder over the angular, synth-kissed indie rock of Lifter Puller, or
recounting the excesses and fatal flaws of his fictional Twin Cities denizen with the Hold Steadyâs swagger-filled
bar rock behind him, Craig Finn has always had a way of blending in with whatever music heâs accompanied by without
losing his writerly voice. With its mellow, lonely sound, Finnâs solo debut, Clear Heart Full Eyes, finds the
songwriter looking for a change of sonic scenery that feels more like a vacation from his other work than a
departure, with the singer maintaining his identity as a songwriter as he adapts to a more distinctly country
sound. Over the course of its 11 tracks, the album unfolds like a series of vacation snapshots that show Finn being
himself in a new locale. Unsurprisingly, the singer is able to deftly adapt to his new surroundings, with his
narrative, story-filled lyrics taking on a newfound earnestness that reflects the plaintive strains of pedal steel
that weaves in and out of these more restrained arrangements. This ability to meld with, rather than take over, the
songs heâs on is a testament to Finnâs abilities not just as a lyricist and a singer, but as a raconteur. Finnâs
guileless, observational create a clean, engrossing narrative that allows listeners to escape into another world
for a few minutes at a time. Though this kind of approach doesnât leave a whole lot up to interpretation, its
directness gives you the opportunity to contemplate the âwho,â âwhere,â when,â and âwhyâ of the songs rather than
just the âwhat.â Anyone expecting the bar rock bravado of the Hold Steady is probably going to be disappointed by
Clear Heart Full Eyesâ subdued vibe, but anyone looking for more of Craig Finnâs sprawling tales will feel right at
home.
Track Listing
1. Apollo Bay
2. When No Ones 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
