Separation Sunday

Amazon.com
It's only natural that the Hold Steady singer Craig Finn receives all the attention. After all, he's the one with the big mouth. And while his odd and humorous rants are essentially compelling, they wouldn't be half as engrossing if his backing group, especially fellow ex-Minnesotan and Lifter Puller guitarist Tad Kubler, didn't smack up such a glorious din, scabrous punk rock swagger dolled up with classic hard rock power chords. "Separation Sunday" is the NYC-based group's second album and it's every bit as sassy and city wise as their 2004 debut "Almost Killed Me." Finn doesn't know the meaning of the phrase 'hold your tongue' and rudely shouts down the opposition on a number of romantic and religious matters, underscoring his contempt with touching moments of true pathos. Finn's surrounded by self-mutilators, abused lovers and deluded characters desperately chasing faith. It's a good thing he has such a crack band to keep them all in check. -- Jaan Uhelszki

Separation Sunday,The Hold Steady,French Kiss,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,United States of America

Separation Sunday

Average customer rating:

These guys are great
Back to the blues
Rock 'n' roll is alive and well thanks to the Hold Steady, amen.
a unique band; in a bad way
Save your money

Separation Sunday
The Hold Steady
Manufacturer: French Kiss
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Almost Killed Me
Boys and Girls in America
Return to Cookie Mountain (with Bonus Tracks)
The Crane Wife
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

ASIN: B0008KLW2C
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Tracks:

Hornets! Hornets!
Cattle And The Creeping Things
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Banging Camp
Charlemagne In Sweatpants
Stevie Nix
Multitude Of Casualties
Don't Let Me Explode
Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
Crucifixion Cruise
How A Resurrection Really Feels

Amazon.com

It's only natural that the Hold Steady singer Craig Finn receives all the attention. After all, he's the one with the big mouth. And while his odd and humorous rants are essentially compelling, they wouldn't be half as engrossing if his backing group, especially fellow ex-Minnesotan and Lifter Puller guitarist Tad Kubler, didn't smack up such a glorious din, scabrous punk rock swagger dolled up with classic hard rock power chords. "Separation Sunday" is the NYC-based group's second album and it's every bit as sassy and city wise as their 2004 debut "Almost Killed Me." Finn doesn't know the meaning of the phrase 'hold your tongue' and rudely shouts down the opposition on a number of romantic and religious matters, underscoring his contempt with touching moments of true pathos. Finn's surrounded by self-mutilators, abused lovers and deluded characters desperately chasing faith. It's a good thing he has such a crack band to keep them all in check. -- Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

These guys are great .......2007-03-13

Well I'm a late convert to the Hold Steady, having just bought the newest CD Boys and Girls in America about a month ago (and listening to it nonstop since then). This weekend I found a copy of Separation Sunday and grabbed it and I love it. This one's probably a little more raw and rough around the edges than Boys and Girls, which has more piano and more "catchy" tunes. However I gotta say---Separation Sunday has absolutely outstanding lyrics, albeit very focused on the subject of how to reconcile a life of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll with religious and spiritual belief. I find it all quite brilliant, and love the Replacements/Stones/E Street Band sound of the music. The only caveat is the singer's voice---it's not for everyone. But that never stopped me from loving the music of Warren Zevon, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, etc. etc. And I have to say, after 2 CD's, I love the Hold Steady and look forward to all of their future releases.

Back to the blues.......2007-01-30

I thought this album was decent, not the greatest of the year but it had a different feel than most of the rock and roll that was spewed out in the last couple of years. The Hold Steady remind me of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. I like the references to hoodrats and Christianity, two very different directions but the Hold Steady makes it work. The music definitely outweighs the talent of the singer. His range is very limited, and I think that hurts the band a little. His lyrics however are potent and worth listining to. All in all its a good blues album and worth your money.

Rock 'n' roll is alive and well thanks to the Hold Steady, amen........2007-01-21

This album is a must have for those who love to rock, and it just may hit you where it counts if you're lucky. I remember writing down all the words to Back In Black on a small piece of paper when I was 14, and then reading it over and over during Catholic mass until I had them memorized. My little brother asked me what I was reading. When I told him, he got all wide-eyed and said in a hushed voice, "That's bad." And that's the gist of this album--how do you reconcile your love for rock 'n' roll with the mores of the Christian Faith? Maybe not a question that needs to be answered, but the fact that this band decided to pose it within the context of a classic rock hook-laden album makes this disc more entertaining than 95% of the music that came out in 2005. This band is pretty much the thinking person's Cheap Trick.

a unique band; in a bad way.......2006-11-10

The style of the Hold Steady gets old really fast; the singer doesn't even sing, he only talks while guitar goes on in the background. That sounded fine to me on the first song, but then I listened further and soon was getting bored with the repetitive nature of the songs. THe only song that pulls off this style is "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head" by Gorillaz, which has narration more than singing. Cake also is kind of more narration than singing but only slightly. Anyway, the Hold Steady are an awful band who will probably fade into nothingness soon seeing that only 20 people have bothered to review it on Amazon.

Save your money.......2006-10-07

I bought that last cd and it SUCKED! The singer sings monotone the whole entire time and doesn't have any variations of tone. The music isn't half bad, it isn't great, but it certainly isn't so good that i can ignore the lame-o singer. its just terrible terrible terrible. if you listen to anything that i say hear this: do not buy this album, you will regret it for all of eternity!
-steve (music master)

Average customer rating:

Live At Fingerprints
The Hold Steady
Manufacturer: Vagrant Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Almost Killed Me
Separation Sunday
Boys and Girls in America
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Icky Thump

ASIN: B000PFI412

Product Description

Official release of The Hold Steady's in-store performance at Fingerprints in Long Beach, CA. Track Listing: 1) Cattle and The Creeping Things, 2) Chips Ahoy, 3) You Can Make Him Like You, 4) Citrus, 5) You Gotta Dance With Who You Came To Dance With.

Average customer rating:

"Eloquent, Exquisite, Exciting"
A Gem!

Dreamer: A Portrait of Langston Hughes
Darryl Taylor , William Warfield , Maria Corley , Erik Santos , and Patricia Terry-Ross
Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Voice of Langston Hughes
The Negro Speaks of Rivers: Art Songs by African-American Composers
You Can Tell the World: Songs by African-American Women Composers

ASIN: B00006I9HH
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Tracks:

My People - William Warfield
Heart
Island
The Weary Blues - William Warfield
Litany
A Black Pierrot
March Moon
Negro - William Warfield
The Negro Speaks Of Rivers
My People
Song To The Dark Virgin
Evil - William Warfield
Joy
Lonely House
Minstrel Man
Sunday Morning Prophecy - William Warfield
In Time Of Silver Rain
Carolina Cabin
Madam And The Census Taker - William Warfield
Lovely, Dark And Lonely One
Sylvester's Dying Bed - William Warfield
Sandman/Birth
Bound No'th Blues
To Artina
Down Where I Am
The Dream Weaver/Bouquet
Still Here - William Warfield

Customer Reviews:

"Eloquent, Exquisite, Exciting".......2004-08-18

"Dreamer" is unquestionably the finest recording of original songs by black composers available today. The singing of tenor, Darryl Taylor is superb and demonstrates a vocal beauty, musicianship, and interpretive sensitivy that is rarely equaled. The selection of poems of poet laureate, Langston Hughes is first rate, and even more important, the songs themselves are original, varied and well written. I think every listener will find "Dreamer" an exciting musical experience, and I predict for Darry Taylor a distinguished career as an interpreter of art songs. For the Naxos price, buy two albums and give one to a friend!

A Gem!.......2002-10-17

This collection is a gem! Langston Hughes was a very "musical" poet who was inspired by a variety of forms, from jazz to classical. His poetry in turn inspired a whole generation of composers, thirteen of whom are represented here in fifteen art songs. Additionally, eight Hughes poems are read by William Warfield.