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The Hold Steady Get Jacked

Posted at 10:16 AM on January 10, 2007 by Hans Eisenbeis (4 Comments)

Earlier this week Idolator (the Gawker family’s music site) released its first-ever Jackin’ Pop Critics Poll, a play on the Village Voice’s annual Pazz and Jop poll. That extensive and often exhaustive list of lists and essays will run in a few weeks, and for the first time minus founder Robert Christgau.

Topping the Idolator poll of 497 critics (which was edited by former local critic Michaelanglo Matos) is TV on the Radio with the fantastic blues-punk-trip-hop sex-freak-out that is “Return to Cookie Mountain.”

And landing at the No. 3 spot? Why it’s “Boys and Girls in America” by the Hold Steady, the Lyn-Lake hoodrats we proudly claim as being born at the Entry and bred on Grain Belt. (Though you do have to wonder about a poll where Paris Hilton’s “Paris” comes in at 119. Seriously. If it’s cool to be contrarian, when will it be contrarian to be earnest?)

And speaking of the Hold Steady and earnestness, today local blogger Jon Busey-Hunt over at Hatesexy is calling the Hold Steady the “most unlistenable garbage ever,” and wonders why they get accolades for sounding like Bruce Springsteen while the Killers get pummeled for trying to be the Boss. Hmmm. Could it be those skinny ties and annoying haircuts? —Molly Priesmeyer

Comments (4)

The Hold Steady is a good band, but the Killers are too, and if critics stuck to the music instead of beating them up for their wardrobe then I think there would be nothing more to write about. By the by, did anyone read Spin magazine last month where the leader of the Hold Steady actually said that the Killers music was really unbelievable-- the sound was so good. Although he at first was taken back by how how they talk smack, he pretty much agreed that they could basically back it all up with their music. The Killers are great....move on...

Posted by G | January 10, 2007 11:31 AM

I love The Hold Steady with a love that is true and, um, steady. Extremely steady.

If you don't like them, local blogger, that's one thing. But why insult them by saying their music is unlistenable s---? Obviously lots of people think it's listenable, so I guess it must be YOU.

I would not love THS if they sounded much like Springsteen to me. Wrap your head around that.

Posted by Tib | January 11, 2007 3:49 PM

The Hold Steady are on Letterman tonight (Thur Jan 11) --Playing Stuck Between Stations. Gotta watch! Oh & Madonna is the guest.

Posted by Debby | January 11, 2007 5:52 PM

Nice site. Thank you!!!
ggh rebecca yarn

Posted by ggh rebecca yarn | December 6, 2007 2:18 PM

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