Yeah, here's a new one!

So, I'm officially obsessed with this band--mainly this record, though I've been reading about other records and I HAVE TO get my hands on them.
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My Good, GOOD, friend Dave sent me a CD with a bunch of records on it. Examples: Knapsack, Kid Kilowat, Polar Bear Club, Lee Fields and the Expressions, and more. But what really caught my attention was this record from The Hold Steady. I can't say enough good things. Check it out. Apparently, the records have recurring characters, and the songs feel more like stories with guitar riffs and melodies. I know this is way behind, but hey, I've been buried in academia, my own band, and other things for a while...Here's the lyrics to the first song, "Stuck Between Stations":

There are nights when I think Sal Paradise was right.
Boys and Girls in America have such a sad time together.
Sucking off each other at the demonstrations
Making sure their makeup’s straight
Crushing one another with colossal expectations.
Dependent, undisciplined, and sleeping late.

She was a really cool kisser and she wasn’t all that strict of a Christian.
She was a damn good dancer but she wasn’t all that great of a girlfriend.
She likes the warm feeling but she’s tired of all the dehydration.
Most nights are crystal clear
But tonight it’s like it’s stuck between stations
On the radio.

The devil and John Berryman
Took a walk together.
They ended up on Washington
Talking to the river.
He said “I’ve surrounded myself with doctors
And deep thinkers.
But big heads with soft bodies
Make for lousy lovers.”
There was that night that we thought John Berryman could fly.
But he didn’t
So he died.
She said “You’re pretty good with words
But words won’t save your life.”
And they didn’t.
So he died.

He was drunk and exhausted but he was critically acclaimed and respected.
He loved the Golden Gophers but he hated all the drawn out winters.
He likes the warm feeling but he’s tired of all the dehydration
Most nights were kind of fuzzy
But that last night he had total retention.

These Twin Cities kisses
Sound like clicks and hisses.
We all tumbled down and
Drowned in the Mississippi River.

We drink
We dry up
Then we crumble to dust
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The vocals are gravelly and the guitars are loud, and it's real catchy too. Check it!
Joshua