Teeth Dreams
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''Teeth Dreams'' is the sixth studio album by American
indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...
band
the Hold Steady The Hold Steady is an American rock band formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 2003. The band consists of Craig Finn (vocals, guitar), Tad Kubler (guitar), Galen Polivka (bass), Bobby Drake (drums), Franz Nicolay (keyboards) and Steve Selvidge (g ...
, released March 25, 2014, on Washington Square/
Razor & Tie Razor & Tie was an American entertainment company that consisted of a record label and a music publishing company. It was established in 1990 by Craig Balsam and Cliff Chenfeld. Based in New York City (with additional offices in Los Angeles and ...
. Produced by
Nick Raskulinecz Nick Raskulinecz () (born February 4, 1970) is an American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Production career Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville ...
, the album is the first to feature guitarist Steve Selvidge, who joined the band in 2010 to tour in support of the band's previous album, '' Heaven Is Whenever'' (2010).


Background

Following the departure of keyboard player
Franz Nicolay Franz Nicolay (born 1977) is an American musician and writer. He is best known as the keyboardist and pianist for the indie rock band the Hold Steady, with whom he has recorded seven studio albums. Nicolay is also known for playing the accordion ...
, and the release of their fifth studio album, '' Heaven Is Whenever'' (2010), the Hold Steady embarked upon an extensive world tour with additional members Steve Selvidge (guitar) and Dan Neustadt (keyboards). Regarding their entry into the Hold Steady, Selvidge noted, " he banddecided to keep it to the core four members, and were looking for a hired-gun keyboard player. At that point, I think Tad said, if we're bringing in a new keyboard player, I want a second guitarist too, and I want it to be Steve." The band had previously known Selvidge through his bands the Bloodthirsty Lovers and the Secret Service. By 2011, Neustadt was no longer performing with the band, and Selvidge was added to the core line-up. Vocalist and guitarist
Craig Finn Craig A. Finn (born August 22, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the frontman of the American indie rock band the Hold Steady, with whom he has recorded nine studio albums. Prior to forming the Hold Steady, ...
noted: "We are rolling without keys right now. We did some shows without keys and we really liked it. It sort of opened things up for us." Upon the tour's completion, the Hold Steady took a five-month hiatus from band activities. Craig Finn recorded and released a solo album, entitled ''
Clear Heart Full Eyes ''Clear Heart Full Eyes'' is the debut solo album by The Hold Steady vocalist and guitarist Craig Finn, released on January 24, 2012 on Full Time Hobby. Produced by Mike McCarthy, the album was recorded during a five-month break from The Hold ...
'' (2012), stating, "I wanted to do something with a little more storytelling and a lot less volume." Reconvening in June 2012, the band began writing new material and released a limited edition single for
Record Store Day Record Store Day is a semi-annual event established in 2008 to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". Held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November, the day brings together f ...
in April 2013, which included the tracks " The Bear and the Maiden Fair" and "Criminal Fingers". Featuring lyrics written by
George R. R. Martin George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948) also known by the initials G.R.R.M. is an American author, television writer, and television producer. He is best known as the author of the unfinished series of Hi ...
, "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" appeared in the HBO television series, ''
Game of Thrones ''Game of Thrones'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy Drama (film and television), drama television series created by David Benioff and for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of high fantasy novels by ...
''. Regarding the single release, Kubler noted, " tevewasn't in the band when we did the last record so we haven't formally released anything that he's played on – other than an
iTunes iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management (MDM) utility developed by Apple. It is used to purchase, play, download and organize digital multimedia on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating s ...
session, or something like that. Having been away for a few years, we thought this would be a great opportunity to reintroduce the newest version of the band."


Writing and composition

The band began writing ''Teeth Dreams'' in June 2012. Prior to the writing process, Finn stated, "It's hard to tell where the new one will go. ..I'm curious whether it will be an extension of 'Heaven Is Whenever'' or if it will be a return to what we did before." Guitarist Tad Kubler elaborated, "“The general consensus may have been that our last record felt like it was maybe rushed a little bit, so I know speaking for myself personally, I want to be really careful not to do that – to be like, 'Oh shit, we need to get a record out and go on tour.’ Going into this, everybody realized that it was going to take as long as it takes." The nine-minute 'Oaks', Kubler explained, "came out of my total obsession with
Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
's 'Exit Music (For a Film)'. It was inspired by how well they do that kind of very cinematic thing."


Release

The release of ''Teeth Dreams'' was announced on January 8, 2014, with guitarist Tad Kubler stating: "We’re really proud of our new record. This is an exciting time for us. Making the new record has been a journey for the band, and the results exceeded even our own expectations. Can't wait for people to hear it." On January 23, 2014, the band released the first track from ''Teeth Dreams'', "I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You".


Critical reception

Jon Dolan of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'' noted that "frontman Craig Finn is still finding new ways to chronicle the underside of dead-end partying. The Brooklyn crew's punked-up bar-band rock is more streamlined now. But the addition of a second guitarist makes for a big sound that gives Finn more room for detail and nuance."
Kitty Empire Kitty Empire (born 1970) is a British writer and music critic, currently writing for ''The Observer''. Early life Empire says that she was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1970 and brought up in Canada, Italy and Egypt before arriving in Britain in ...
of ''
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...
'' said, "''Teeth Dreams'' is, in many ways, the big record they have long been threatening to make... This time around, the band are also packing more firepower in the strings, in the form of third guitarist Steve Selvidge, who fills the gap left by the 2010 departure of keyboard player Franz Nicolay; producer Nick Raskulinecz, meanwhile, a veteran of Foo Fighters jobs, is tasked with reclassifying the Hold Steady from indie rock to something more ear-pinning. As well as all the customary riffing and chiming, there's now ample opportunity for Kubler and Selvidge to duel... This album takes anxiety as a theme, but it sounds materially less neurotic than their previous records, for good and ill." At ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'', Jerry Shriver rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of four, writing that "Blue-collar rock and gritty story-songs of desperation and sketchy connections infuse the Brooklyn band's powerful sixth album. Ferocious, chiming guitars frame Craig Finn's half-spoken narratives of lives on the edge."


Track listing

All songs written by Craig Finn, Tad Kubler and Steve Selvidge, except as shown. # "I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You" (Finn, Kubler) – 4:01 # "Spinners" (Finn, Kubler) – 5:24 # "The Only Thing" – 4:33 # "The Ambassador" – 5:12 # "On with the Business" – 4:04 # "Big Cig" – 4:17 # "Wait a While" – 3:37 # "Runner's High" (Finn, Selvidge) – 4:12 # "Almost Everything" (Finn, Kubler) – 4:17 # "Oaks" (Finn, Kubler) – 9:01


UK iTunes bonus tracks

#
  • "Records & Tapes" – 4:12 #"Saddle Shoes" – 4:12 #"Look Alive" – 3:44


    2-LP vinyl track listing

    Side one # "I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You" – 4:01 # "Spinners" – 5:24 # "The Only Thing" – 4:33 Side two # "The Ambassador" – 5:12 # "On with the Business" – 4:04 # "Saddle Shoes" – 4:12 Side three # "Big Cig" – 4:17 # "Wait a While" – 3:37 # "Runner's High" – 4:12 Side four # "Almost Everything" – 4:17 # "Oaks" – 9:01


    Personnel

    The Hold Steady *Bobby Drake *
    Craig Finn Craig A. Finn (born August 22, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the frontman of the American indie rock band the Hold Steady, with whom he has recorded nine studio albums. Prior to forming the Hold Steady, ...
    * Tad Kubler *Galen Polivka *Steve Selvidge Additional personnel * Al Gamble – piano and keyboards Production *
    Nick Raskulinecz Nick Raskulinecz () (born February 4, 1970) is an American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Production career Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville ...
    – producer *John "Don Gannon" Albritton – assistant engineer *Nathan Yarbourgh – assistant engineer *Adam Fuchs – art direction *Mastered by
    Ted Jensen Ted Jensen (born September 19, 1954) is an American mastering engineer, known for having mastered many recordings, including the Eagles' '' Hotel California'', Green Day's '' American Idiot'' and Norah Jones' ''Come Away with Me''. Early life ...
    at Sterling Sound, New York City


    Charts


    References

    {{Authority control 2014 albums The Hold Steady albums Razor & Tie albums Albums produced by Nick Raskulinecz