The Price of Progress

AlbumMar 31 / 202310 songs, 38m 51s
Indie Rock
Noteable

Early into the Brooklyn-based rockers’ ninth studio album, Craig Finn sums up a practical but no less potent mantra: “We do what we do to survive.” Staying true to form as he enters his 20th year with The Hold Steady (while also putting out a steady flow of solo records in a similar vein), Finn continues to write, with equal reverence, detailed stories of working stiffs and scumbags trying their best to get by. Nothing ever comes easy for these characters, whether by circumstance or choice, from a traveling couple searching for meaning in their lives despite their dwindling funds to a football-field crasher who never grew up. While there’s a distinctive familiarity to their lyrical concepts, their classic-rock-indebted sound is anything but. The band comes armed with a whole new set of tricks—whether it’s horn-filled lounge-funk (“Understudies”), synth flourishes (“Grand Junction”), or improvised sax accents (“The Birdwatchers”)—to add texture against the dual-guitar attack of Tad Kubler and Steve Selvidge. On “Sideways Skull,” Finn plays with irony, singing about aging rockers attempting to reclaim their glory days.

THE PRICE OF PROGRESS is our 9th studio album and comes out March 31, 2023 via Positive Jams, in association with Thirty Tigers. Once again we made this record with producer Josh Kaufman and engineer D. James Goodwin at The Clubhouse studio in Rhinebeck NY. The history and comfort of working with these two made the sessions joyful and exciting. We were able to get to new places in the music and atmosphere, while retaining a familiar THS vibe. The result is our most cinematic and expansive release yet. THE PRICE OF PROGRESS features ten narrative rock and roll songs about people trying to survive in this modern age. It’s a great way to celebrate our 20 years as a band. We are very excited to be sharing THE PRICE OF PROGRESS with you. Thanks for listening. Thanks for understanding. Stay Positive. The Hold Steady

74

7.6 / 10

The Brooklyn band’s ninth album is vivid and weird: a celebration of second winds, unlikely comebacks, and undying rock’n’roll dreams.

8 / 10

More cinéma vérité than slick blockbuster, The Price of Progress's cinematic grit showcases The Hold Steady's ability to mirror real life, where the mundane can tip into vivid action in a millisecond.

7.9 / 10

The Hold Steady's ninth album is their most musically expansive effort.

The Hold Steady began work on 2023's The Price of Progress only a few months after 2021's Open Door Policy was delivered to their fans, so it's no great surprise that in many respects it feels like a continuation of the earlier album's themes.

7.5 / 10

For their ninth studio album, The Hold Steady are in peak form on The Price of Progress as they celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary in 2023.

6 / 10

The Hold Steady toasted 20 years as a band last month, a milestone – indeed, practically a miracle – in today’s frenetic music scene. Holding true to

6 / 10

Jack McGill reviews the ninth album from heartland rockers The Hold Steady! Read the review of 'The Price Of Progress' here!

The Hold Steady ‘The Price of Progress’ abounds in adventurous new tangents seamlessly integrated with rocking, crowd-pleasing thrills.

7 / 10

'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.

3.9 / 5

8 / 10