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First Listen: Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes

Posted at 10:35 AM on January 17, 2012 by The Current (5 Comments)

Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes

Listen: Clear Heart Full Eyes

Clear Heart Full Eyes is the debut solo record from The Hold Steady's Craig Finn. While The Hold Steady had some down time, Finn enlisted the help of producer Mike McCarthy (his credits include working with Spoon, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and Heartless Bastards) to try his hand at a solo album. He gathered up some demos and flew down to Austin, Texas, and Clear Heart Full Eyes is the result.


When I heard Craig Finn was working on a solo record, my initial reaction was to be curious. I wondered if there was trouble in The Hold Steady. I wondered if he was going to go in a completely new direction. I didn't have to wonder long when Craig shared some new songs while he was a guest on The Minnesota Public Radio live program, Wits. It sparked my interest to get a taste of what he'd been cooking up. He also provided explanation on the internet (his blog, Amazon page, Twitter) saying how he was interested in trying something new and wanted to have the experience in growing as a songwriter/musician by working outside his usual zone. I can appreciate that and I commend him for recognizing the need to explain his intentions. No need for this radio DJ to analyze a musician's move any further, and for that, I thank you Mr. Finn.


Upon first listen to Clear Heart Full Eyes, it became clear that the focus of this record is Finn's writing. His lyrics are the forefront. I've considered him to be a strong lyricist since the first time I heard his work with The Hold Steady. What's different in this situation than in that of The Hold Steady is that the musical arrangements are more subtle and sort of mellowed out, allowing the listener to concentrate on the words. His delivery and writing style are true to the "Craig Finn style," littered with themes of religion, character development and solitude. What it comes down to is this; Finn is a great storyteller and I think this solo record venture was another opportunity to let his narrative voice shine.


— Jill Riley, Host


Comments (5)

Am I missing something? Is "One Single Saviour" (previewed on MPR's Wits) not going to be on the album? Drag! I love that song!

Posted by atom | January 17, 2012 3:51 PM

i gave it a fair listen and have to say: it sucks.
I think the only reason it gets airplay is because he used to live here, and at any chance will reference Lyndale or the river or the twins to get included in that "local" music category.

Posted by zac | January 17, 2012 6:38 PM

Why the hatred Zac? Who cares if he isn't so 'local' anymore. He actually does keep his ties here...but that's besides the point.

What is so bad about this music? He has a great unique style.

BTW, I think a Mike Doughty/Graig Finn duet album would be pretty freakin' cool.

Posted by drew | January 17, 2012 11:01 PM

everybody says that I'd change my mind about Finn if I saw him live. That may be true, but why actually make a record?
If it's all about his lyrics, just write poetry.

Better yet, why can't we just pay some local singers who can sing to cover all their songs.

I don't care if he is or isn't local, but I do care that he is played mainly because of this connection.

Posted by zac | January 18, 2012 10:02 AM

Ah, the bitter bleatings of the unrecognized geniuses. A) it doesn't suck. B) as a Minneapolis native, I loved the "homecoming" nature of the Hold Steady shows when they came back to town. But C) don't be so damn provincial. I can report from the West Coast that the Hold Steady, and thus Craig Finn, are a pretty big deal everywhere - not just in the upper Midwest. I suspect this album might get airplay simply because of that fact, with or without any imagined "local" connection.

Posted by Kirk | January 24, 2012 12:28 PM

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