The Hold Steady New Album Close

The Hold Steady, lauded for the scope, depth, truth and heart they bring to chronicling the American rock myth, recently put the finishing touches on Heaven Is Whatever, their new album set for release May 7th in Australia on Vagrant Records. Through Shock.

The album was produced by Dean Baltulonis, who engineered the band’s Almost Killed Me and produced Separation Sunday, and was recorded at Dreamland Recording Studios in Upstate NY and Wild Arctic Studios in Queens, NY, with mixing also happening at Wild Arctic.

Singer Craig Finn says Heaven Is Whatever is about “embracing suffering and finding reward in our everyday lives.” Piano and keys take a backseat to guitar on the new record, which also gets production help from guitarist Tad Kubler.

Recorded in several smaller sessions spread out over a long period of time, the songs on Heaven Is Whatever received the benefit of being tested on the band’s recent tours. As Finn says this allowed them to “see what was working and what wasn’t. I believe this record benefits from us working at a more deliberate pace.”

Following the release of 2008’s critically acclaimed Stay Positive, which gave the band it’s highest chart positions to date, The Hold Steady toured relentlessly, playing to some of their biggest audiences. They also toured Australia early last year and you can find a review of their Melbourne show on this website.