We All Want the Same Things is the third solo album from The Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn, and his most fully realized solo release to date. Holden is known for his witty lyrics that often tell stories of working class people in the city. This album mainly focuses on personal relationships, and codependency is a common theme across these songs. Some of the stories told in these songs include a road trip with the narrator’s deceased friend’s sister to finish a drug deal his friend left unresolved (“God in Chicago”) a man and a widow who have a relationship mostly out of convenience (“Rescue Blues”), a wealthy, divorced middle-aged man and his relationship with a younger woman whom he lavishes with expensive dates and gifts (“Tangletown”). This album shows he can hold his own as a solo artist apart from The Hold Steady, while still appealing to longtime fans.
Play: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9
FCC: 5
RIYL: The Hold Steady, Strand of Oaks, Bruce Springsteen, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
WRUV Reviews 