Stay Positive (album)

{{For|the song by the Streets|Original Pirate Material{{!}}''Original Pirate Material''}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Stay Positive | type = studio | artist = the Hold Steady | cover = The Hold Steady - Stay Positive cover.jpg | alt = | released = 15 July 2008 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|alternative rock|heartland rock}} | length = 43:48 | label = Vagrant/Rough Trade | producer = John Agnello | prev_title = Boys and Girls in America | prev_year = 2006 | next_title = Heaven Is Whenever | next_year = 2010 }} {{Music ratings | MC = 85/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/stay-positive/the-hold-steady |title=Reviews for Stay Positive by The Hold Steady |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stay-positive-mw0000790126 |title=Stay Positive – The Hold Steady |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Jurek |first=Thom}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The A.V. Club'' | rev2Score = B+<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/the-hold-steady-emstay-positiveem-6969 |title=The Hold Steady: Stay Positive |work=The A.V. Club |date=July 14, 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev3Score = A<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2008/07/11/stay-positive |title=Stay Positive |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 11, 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Willman |first=Chris}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Guardian'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jul/11/filmandmusic1.filmandmusic11 |title=The Hold Steady, Stay Positive |work=The Guardian |date=July 11, 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Rogers |first=Jude |author-link=Jude Rogers}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Los Angeles Times'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-recordrack15-2008jul15-story.html |title=The Hold Steady 'Stay Positive' (Vagrant) |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 15, 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Cromelin |first=Richard}}</ref> | rev6 = ''MSN Music'' (Consumer Guide) | rev6Score = B+<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg2008-09.php |title=Consumer Guide |work=MSN Music |date=September 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> | rev7 = ''NME'' | rev7Score = 9/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/9791 |title=The Hold Steady: Stay Positive |journal=NME |date=July 11, 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=McMahon |first=James |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314211017/http://www.nme.com/reviews/9791 |archivedate=March 14, 2016}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev8Score = 8.4/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11987-stay-positive/ |title=The Hold Steady: Stay Positive |work=Pitchfork |date=July 13, 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Crock |first=Jason}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/stay-positive-20080710 |title=Stay Positive |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 10, 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes}}</ref> | rev10 = ''Spin'' | rev10Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ul7jcf4HvN4C&pg=PA100 |title=Closing Time |journal=Spin |volume=24 |issue=8 |date=August 2008 |accessdate=May 20, 2016 |last=Modell |first=Josh |page=100}}</ref> }}

'''''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 [and] how to stay true to the ideals and ideas you had when you were younger."<ref name="uncut.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/the_hold_steady/reviews/11826 |title=Music Reviews |publisher=Uncut.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-03-10 |archive-date=2011-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519172321/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/the_hold_steady/reviews/11826 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Keyboard player Franz Nicolay notes that the album is his favorite, stating that it features an "integrated, nuanced, less hectic distillation of [their earlier] sound."<ref>{{cite web | author=Lindsay, Andrew | title=Interview: Franz Nicolay | date=2009-02-16 | url=http://stereokill.net/2009/02/16/interview-franz-nicolay-the-hold-steady/ | publisher=Stereokill.net | access-date=2009-04-06 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804021504/http://stereokill.net/2009/02/16/interview-franz-nicolay-the-hold-steady/ | archive-date=2009-08-04 }}</ref> ''Stay Positive'' was the last studio album to feature Nicolay for eleven years, until 2019's ''Thrashing Thru the Passion''. Nicolay 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 (via the Rock Band Network) 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 Stone''{{'}}s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.<ref name="bestsongs">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20081229022602/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24947047/the_100_best_singles_of_2008/14 The 100 Best Songs of 2008]". ''Rolling Stone'' (December 25, 2008). Retrieved 2009-01-12</ref>

''Stay Positive'' has sold 88,000 copies as of April 2010 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/958394/hold-steady-seeks-to-break-out-of-the-brooklyn-rock-box |title=Hold Steady Seeks To Break Out Of The Brooklyn Rock Box |website=Billboard.com |date=2009-09-14 |accessdate=2012-03-10}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="uncut.co.uk"/> The title track references hardcore punk bands Youth of Today, 7 Seconds, and Dillinger Four.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Stay-Positive-lyrics-The-Hold-Steady/5ECA05E9AE7AEEBB482574490020F42D |title=Stay Positive Lyrics - the Hold Steady |access-date=2010-10-19 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190251/http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Stay-Positive-lyrics-The-Hold-Steady/5ECA05E9AE7AEEBB482574490020F42D |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Accolades== {|class="wikitable" |- ! Publication ! Country ! Accolade ! Year ! Rank |- | ''The A.V. Club'' | USA | The Best Music of 2008 | 2008 | #6<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/content/feature/the_best_music_of_2008/3 |title=The best music of 2008 | the A.V. Club |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=2020-04-21 |archive-date=2008-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227051749/http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/the_best_music_of_2008/3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | ''Q'' | UK | 50 Best Albums of the Year | 2008 | #35<ref>Q Magazine Jan 09, pg.83</ref> |- | ''Mojo'' | UK | 50 Best Albums of the Year | 2008 | #6<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojoend.html#2008 |title=Rocklist.net...Mojo End of year Lists |access-date=2009-02-14 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012714/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojoend.html#2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> |- | ''Uncut'' | UK | 50 Best Albums of the Year | 2008 | #12<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/uncut.htm#2008 |title=Rocklist.net. |access-date=2009-02-14 |archive-date=2011-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428185601/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/uncut.htm#2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> |- | ''Rolling Stone'' | USA | 50 Best Albums of the Year | 2008 | #36<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rolling.htm#2008 |title=Rocklist.net....Rolling Stone (USA) End of Year Lists |access-date=2009-02-14 |archive-date=2010-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723004927/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rolling.htm#2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> |- | ''Entertainment Weekly'' | USA | Best Music of 2008: A Second Opinion by Chris Willman | 2008 | #1<ref>''Entertainment Weekly'', Dec 26/Jan 02, p. 100</ref> |}

==Track listing== All songs written by Craig Finn and Tad Kubler, except where noted. #"Constructive Summer" – 2:56 #"Sequestered in Memphis" – 3:33 #"One for the Cutters" – 4:41 #"Navy Sheets" – 3:23 #"Lord, I'm Discouraged" – 5:08 #"Yeah Sapphire" (Finn, Franz Nicolay) – 3:37 #"Both Crosses" – 4:35 #"Stay Positive" – 2:59 #"Magazines" (Finn, Nicolay) – 3:09 #"Joke About Jamaica" (Finn, Kubler, Nicolay) – 4:36 #"Slapped Actress" – 5:19

===CD bonus tracks=== A "limited edition digipak" version of the album was released with three bonus tracks (however, they are uncut from one another and run continuous as track 12):<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theholdsteady.com/ |title=Buy a Domain Name - World's Best Domains for Sale |access-date=2008-07-17 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225073212/https://theholdsteady.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> #<li value=12>"Ask Her for Adderall" – 2:52 #"Cheyenne Sunrise" – 4:11 #"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: #"Constructive Summer" #"Sequestered in Memphis" #"One For The Cutters"

Disc 1 Side B: #<li value=4>"Navy Sheets" #"Yeah Sapphire" #"Lord, I'm Discouraged"

Disc 2 Side A: #<li value=7>"Both Crosses" #"Stay Positive" #"Joke About Jamaica"

Disc 2 Side B: #<li value=10>"Ask Her For Adderall" #"Magazines" #"Slapped Actress"

===Deluxe Edition=== A deluxe edition, released on October 15, 2018, includes demo recordings of many of the original release's tracks as well as previously unreleased tracks: "This Isn't Enough", "You Tremble", and "The Ballad of the Midnight Hauler". "Spectres" and "40 Bucks" were previously released as downloadable bonus content from the live album A Positive Rage.

#"Constructive Summer" – 2:56 #"Sequestered in Memphis" - 03:32 #"One For the Cutters" - 04:41 #"Navy Sheets" - 03:21 #"Lord, I'm Discouraged" - 05:08 #"Yeah Sapphire" - 03:36 #"Both Crosses" - 04:35 #"Stay Positive" - 02:58 #"Magazines" - 03:08 #"Joke About Jamaica" - 04:35 #"Slapped Actress" - 05:17 #"Ask Her For Adderall" - 02:48 #"Two Handed Handshake" - 04:13 #"Cheyenne Sunrise" - 04:12 #"Spectres" - 03:42 #"40 Bucks" - 03:54 #"This Isn't Enough" - 03:31 #"You Tremble" - 02:19 #"The Ballad of the Midnight Hauler" - 03:10 #"Sequestered in Memphis (Demo)" - 02:46 #"Yeah Sapphire (Demo)" - 03:57 #"Stay Positive (Demo)" - 02:45 #"Lord, I'm Discouraged (Demo)" - 05:14 #"Magazines (Demo)" - 02:41 #"Ask Her For Adderall (Demo)" - 02:44 #"Two Handed Handshake (Demo)" - 05:04 #"Joke About Jamaica (Demo)" - 05:31 #"Creepy Harpsichord Jam (One for the Cutters) (Demo)" - 04:40 #"40 Bucks (Demo)" - 03:58 #"Phil Spector (Spectres) (Demo)" - 03:52

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:2008 albums Category:The Hold Steady albums Category:Vagrant Records albums Category:Albums produced by John Agnello