Stay Positive (album)


Stay Positive is the fourth studio album by The Hold Steady, released on July 15, 2008 through Vagrant Records. Vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn notes that the album is about "the idea of ageing gracefully keeping going, perseverance how to stay true to the ideals and ideas you had when you were younger." Keyboard player Franz Nicolay notes that the album is his favorite, stating that it features an "integrated, nuanced, less hectic distillation of sound." Stay Positive was the last studio album to feature Nicolay until 2019's Thrashing Thru the Passion, who departed from the band in early 2010 but returned in 2016.
On May 20, the album's first single, "Sequestered in Memphis", was released on the band's MySpace page and on iTunes. On June 9, the entire album was made available to stream on MySpace, and on June 18 the full album became available on iTunes. It was later released for the videogame Rock Band on March 4, 2010.
The record entered the UK Album Chart at #15 on July 20, 2008, the third-highest new entry. It ranked #1 on the UK Indie Chart. In the U.S. it entered at #30 on the Billboard 200.
The album was Alex Zane's record of the week on the XFM breakfast show. The song "Constructive Summer" was number 56 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Stay Positive has sold 88,000 copies as of April 2010

Lyrical content

In an interview with Uncut, Craig Finn notes that he thought the album "should maybe look at the characters I’d been writing about on the previous three albums as they got a bit older, more adult with more adult problems." The title track in particular references several Hold Steady songs and characters from the previous albums, such as "Hornets! Hornets!", "Positive Jam", "Massive Nights" and "Sweet Payne", while relating them to the common theme of believing in the ideals of youth as you get older. The title track references hardcore punk bands Youth of Today, 7 Seconds, and Dillinger Four.

Accolades

Bullying The Jukebox Radio Program - Number 13

Track listing

All songs written by Craig Finn and Tad Kubler, except where noted.
  1. "Constructive Summer" - 2:56
  2. "Sequestered in Memphis" - 3:33
  3. "One for the Cutters" - 4:41
  4. "Navy Sheets" - 3:23
  5. "Lord, I'm Discouraged" - 5:08
  6. "Yeah Sapphire" - 3:37
  7. "Both Crosses" - 4:35
  8. "Stay Positive" - 2:59
  9. "Magazines" - 3:09
  10. "Joke About Jamaica" - 4:36
  11. "Slapped Actress" - 5:19

    CD bonus tracks

A "limited edition digipak" version of the album was released with three bonus tracks :
  2. "Ask Her for Adderall" - 2:52
  3. "Cheyenne Sunrise" - 4:11
  4. "Two Handed Handshake" - 4:15

    Vinyl edition

A double LP vinyl edition is also available, which includes the limited edition CD's bonus track "Ask Her for Adderall," as well as a slightly different track order.
Disc 1 Side A:
  1. "Constructive Summer"
  2. "Sequestered in Memphis"
  3. "One For The Cutters"
Disc 1 Side B:
  2. "Navy Sheets"
  3. "Yeah Sapphire"
  4. "Lord, I'm Discouraged"
Disc 2 Side A:
  2. "Both Crosses"
  3. "Stay Positive"
  4. "Joke About Jamaica"
Disc 2 Side B:
  2. "Ask Her For Adderall"
  3. "Magazines"
  4. "Slapped Actress"