Aside from being a return to form for The Hold Steady after a couple of lackluster LPs, 2019's Thrashing Thru the Passion also marked the return on wax of keyboardist Franz Nicolay.
The Price of Progress has all the hallmarks of the Hold Steady but with just enough swerves to keep it interesting. It s a worthy addition to their catalog.
. These collections felt like a crash, not a comedown, leaving their fans with no new singalong songs to become their scriptures.
When Franz returned in 2016, so did the bandâs cleverness and immediacy. Frontman Craig Finn had rediscovered what the Hold Steady do so wellâsoaring anthems, pocked with hilarious, devastating lyricsâwhile pursuing his increasingly excellent solo career, and the group became a sextet for 2019âs thrilling
Open Door Policy, an ornate record that incorporates Nicolayâs ambitious compositions as an integral part of the bandâs songwriting.
Passion had them recognizing, to quote a lyric, âIt doesnât have to be perfect/Just sort of has to be worth it.â On