Album review: THE HOLD STEADY – Open Door Policy

Thirty Tigers [Release date 19.02.21]

The Hold Steady return to action with eighth album which as vocalist Craig Fin explains – “This album was written and almost entirely recorded before the pandemic started, but the songs and stories explore power, wealth, mental health, technology, capitalism, consumerism, and survival – issues which have compounded in 2020.”

The first single released off the album, ‘Family Farm’, is a typical piano led Hold Steady romp. I mean how can you not like a song that name checks Van Halen’s ‘Eruption’?! ‘Unpleasant Breakfast’ could quite possibly put you off your breakfast when listening to a certain line… The song’s main character works in a haunted hotel and the band provide some suitably spooky backing vocals on the chorus, making it one of the album’s stand outs.

Elsewhere on the album ‘Spices’ allows Craig Finn to weave a tale with the lyrics. One thing you can guarantee with the lyrics on a Hold Steady album is plenty of weird tales, as the aforementioned ‘Spices’ and ‘Lanyards’ highlight.

With Franz Nicolay firmly back in the line-up his piano and keyboard runs light up the music, plus good to have the odd blast of horns now and then to keep the band’s broad soundscape going.

Some bands this far into their musical adventures often run out of steam lyric wise or recycle previous songs, not so the Hold Steady who sound as fresh and enjoyable as they did when they first started out. One of 2021’s ‘must have’ albums. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)