The Hold Steady - "Teeth Dreams"

The Hold Steady mark their return today with the release of Teeth Dreams, their long-awaited sixth album and debut for their own imprint, Positive Jams in conjunction with Washington Square, an imprint of Razor & Tie.  The new album, produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains) is their first studio recording with new guitarist Steve Selvidge (ex-Lucero) and the three-pronged guitar attack figures prominently into their more straight-forward rock-focused sound as does frontman Craig Finn’s signature witty and dense storytelling.  The album title comes from the idea that when you dream about teeth, you are anxious and the lyrics incorporate themes of paranoia, anxiety and the like.    

The ringing guitars, propulsive rhythm and wordy verses of album opener, “I Hope This Whole Thing Didn’t Frighten You” is a nice welcome back.  The standout first single, “Spinners” follows and is built upon a hard-charging rhythm and a soaring, Springsteen-like chorus.  Later, “The Ambassador” slows things down a bit with pretty piano and guitar interplay and earnestly aching vocal melodies.  Another standout track, “Big Cig” is hefty slice of roadhouse rock with a rumbling, fuzzed-out bass line, melodic guitar solo and a catchy, call-and-response-esque chorus.  “Runner’s High” is another bluesy rocker with guitars that alternate between chugging on the verses and cascading on the chorus.  The ten-track album closes out with the lighters-in-the-air ballad, “Oaks” with its hopeless yet hopeful lines; “…we dream of the views from boats, of mountains covered in oaks, and we hope…” and smoldering, extended guitar solo. 

The Hold Steady have returned from hiatus with the highly-anticipated Teeth Dreams, and delivered with yet another great, "album of the year" worthy indie rock album to add to their impressive canon.      

Stream “I Hope This Whole Thing Didn’t Frighten You” here:

For more info: http://theholdsteady.net/ and http://washingtonsquaremusic.com/