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The Hold Steady
Almost Killed Me
(Frenchkiss)
T.J. Simon's #8 album for 2004
First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2004, Volume 11, #9
Written by T.J. Simon
What The Streets did for hip-hop on Original Pirate Material, The Hold
Steady does for hard rock on Almost Killed Me, an album that showcases
the half-sung, half-spoken vocals of Craig Finn and the eclectic arena rock
guitar of Tad Kubler — both of whom previously performed with the
Minneapolis-based, indie rock outfit Lifter Puller. Undoubtedly, the collection
is one of the most challenging listens of the year. However, with familiarity
comes understanding, at which point the disc becomes one of the most rewarding
conceptual pieces in recent memory.
The story outlined, however hazily, on Almost Killed Me centers around
Finn’s descent into the drugs and booze culture of the punk scene in the ’80s
and ’90s and his emergence on the other end as a survivor. As such, the
individual tracks offer Finn’s stream of consciousness recollections of the
era’s scenes and its participants. He has a penchant for peppering his
story-songs with throwback pop culture references that include Steve Perry,
Patty Smythe, Meat Loaf, and Right Said Fred (among others), while musically,
Kubler’s guitar style pays homage to musical motifs that embrace AC/DC (The
Swish), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Barfruit Blues), Bruce Springsteen (Hostile,
Mass), and U2 (Killer Parties). Most of the time, the pairing works
like a charm, although there are moments (Sketchy Metal, Sweet Payne)
when the music doesn’t match the strength of Finn’s consistently compelling
musings.
Without question, the central focus of Almost Killed Me ultimately is
its lyrics. In essence, it’s a hip-hop record for people who hate rap but revere
hard rock, and as a result, it’s a startlingly unique endeavor, one to which
comparisons with other collections are difficult to make. Lou Reed’s New York
comes close; The Streets’ debut comes closer. Still, this is a disc for music
fans who have grown bored with both classic rock and so-called alternative fare.
Totally esoteric and conceptual, it will take a few listens with the lyric sheet
in hand before the mad brilliance of Almost Killed Me is fully grasped.
By then, The Hold Steady’s unique brand of raconteur poetry will become
strangely addictive.  ½
Almost Killed Me is available
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2004
The Music Box
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