Idolator
If you're young, cranky, and perpetually holding out for a Replacements reunion, then you no doubt purchased the Hold Steady's new album, Boys And Girls In America, as soon as it was released yesterday. You're also probably drunk right now, which we like, since that generally helps make this site a lot more readable.
Anyway, fans of the band know that lead singer Craig Finn has more than a few go-to touchstone references, all of which approach the over-saturation point in America. And so for those of you who've already given the record a few spins—or for anyone who thinks they could do better—we present our Hold Steady Mad Libs. After the click-through, a few stumbling pseudo-Finn verses that need to hook up with your bored, boozy pronouns.
THE LYRICS:
(Catholic School Girl Name) had a hard heart but she had a soft spot for ('70s Musician)/ In the back seat, she enjoyed (working-class vice) while talking about (poet) and metaphors/She drove down to (r
random mississippi river reference)/Then she did some more
These kids in (mid-size American city) wonder who's going to save them from (decade)/ Strung out, and (post-vice activity)/Waiting for a (religious reference)/Somewhere near (slightly different random place in Mississippi)
Fun, right? If you're having problems coming up with your own Finn-speak, feel free to swipe from our suggestions below:
Catholic School Girl Name
Theresa
Holly
Mary
St. Barbara
'70s Musician
Freddie Mercury
Rod Stewart
Phil Lynot
Alice Cooper
Vice
Drinking Dark Bacardi
Powders and Pills
Sniffing Margarita Mix
White Wine and Tallboy Cans
Poet
William Blake
Keats
William Butler Yeats
Random Mississippi River Reference
Banks of the Mississippi River
Shores of the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River
Washed Up in the Mississippi River
Mid-sized American City
St. Paul
Denver
Philly
Dallas
Decade
The '60s
The '70s
The '80s
The '90s
Post-Vice Activity
Taking Off Their Clothes
Going Out to Shows
Waking Up with the Backstage Pass in Their Pants
Riding Around in GTOs
Religious Reference
Conversion
Resurrection
Jesus Christ in All His Glory
Born-Again Baptism
A Confession Booth
Comments
This post gets a 9.4!
People who excuse the Hold Steady's tired rock cliches and obnoxious vocals (now higher in the mix than ever! Thanks, Vagrant-sized recording budget!) by citing their "really clever and literate lyrics" have never listened to the Hold Steady. They just assume they're clever because the band members are dorky-looking. There is nothing redeeming about this band, except that one guy's waxed moustache.
I've never heard the band in question; can I still play?
"Kristen had a hard heart but she had a soft spot for Neu!/ In the back seat, she enjoyed buying things on credit while talking about Bukowski and metaphors/She drove down to a riverboat casino/Then she did some more
These kids in Reno wonder who's going to save them from the 1930's/ Strung out, and vomiting/Waiting for a human sacrifice/Somewhere near Hattiesburg
relaxing, you are lovely and talented.
Frankie had a hard heart but she had a soft spot for Peter Frampton/ In the back seat, she enjoyed rollin' doobies while talking about Plath and metaphors/She drove down to the delta/Then she did some more
These kids in Des Moines wonder who's going to save them from the 80's/ Strung out, and stumbling/Waiting for a street-wise preacher man/Somewhere near Biloxi.
I love you guys! Yr. verses don't scan (and amazingly, often, Finn's do), but that's oaky. I'm still laughing my ass off anyway at the Mississippi River locations.
Re: Franz's moustache -- Yessssssss!
-cindy hotpoint
I heard a track off the new Hold Steady and I swear it sounds like seventies-era Meatloaf. These guys are uncool, with no flash or glamour.
These guys are uncool, with no flash or glamour.
At least someone gets it. The Mad Libs are missing a Random Northeast Locale Reference, given RI got love on "Same Kooks".
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