According to the Hold Steady's website, the Brooklyn barroom academics have "recently put the finishing touches on Heaven Is Whenever, their new album set for release May 4 on Vagrant Records and May 3 on Rough Trade in the UK and EU." We couldn't have said it any better ourselves.
The album, the band's fifth studio full-length, was produced by Dean Baltulonis, who produced the group's breakthrough sophomore album Separation Sunday and engineered their debut. The record will be the first since their debut effort recorded without recently departed keyboardist Franz Nicolay.
In a press release, singer Craig Finn notes that Heaven Is Whenever is about "embracing suffering and finding reward in our everyday lives." And while that doesn't sound especially different from Hold Steady songs in the past, he also added that the album will be "less anthemic and more complex."
Meanwhile, guitarist Tad Kubler has mentioned that it's a "guitar heavy record. But I would NOT say this is a heavy guitar record. The main objective being not to make the same record as the one previous."
In support of the new album, the Hold Steady are gearing up for a U.S. spring tour, which kicks off in April. You can see all the dates here.
Heaven is Whenever:
1. "The Sweet Part of the City"
2. "Soft in the Center"
3. "The Weekenders"
4. "The Smidge"
5. "Rock Problems"
6. "We Can Get Together"
7. "Hurricane J"
8. "Barely Breathing"
9. "Our Whole Lives"
10. "A Slight Discomfort"
The album, the band's fifth studio full-length, was produced by Dean Baltulonis, who produced the group's breakthrough sophomore album Separation Sunday and engineered their debut. The record will be the first since their debut effort recorded without recently departed keyboardist Franz Nicolay.
In a press release, singer Craig Finn notes that Heaven Is Whenever is about "embracing suffering and finding reward in our everyday lives." And while that doesn't sound especially different from Hold Steady songs in the past, he also added that the album will be "less anthemic and more complex."
Meanwhile, guitarist Tad Kubler has mentioned that it's a "guitar heavy record. But I would NOT say this is a heavy guitar record. The main objective being not to make the same record as the one previous."
In support of the new album, the Hold Steady are gearing up for a U.S. spring tour, which kicks off in April. You can see all the dates here.
Heaven is Whenever:
1. "The Sweet Part of the City"
2. "Soft in the Center"
3. "The Weekenders"
4. "The Smidge"
5. "Rock Problems"
6. "We Can Get Together"
7. "Hurricane J"
8. "Barely Breathing"
9. "Our Whole Lives"
10. "A Slight Discomfort"
