Stylistically, the album stays true to the “working man’s rock-n-roll” motif established by The Hold Steady in their previous albums, but this is mellowed by the lack of their signature piano after the departure of their keyboard player. A solid album overall, but I wouldn’t count on it making any lists at the end of the year.

Go see The Hold Steady at the Sasquatch music festival May 29-31.

Listen to The Smidge and know that you are a better person for it.

So, here’s what everyone else is talking about:

I don’t get The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, but I have nothing against straight-ahead pop.

I don’t get Wavves. Stoner makes good.

Dum Dum Girls haven’t really hit my synapses yet:

I really like a some of what Sweden’s The Knife does. Everyone says that Karin Dreijer Andersson of The Knife has done something worthwhile with Fever Ray. I haven’t heard much yet, but I bet they’re right.

I do like Cymbals Eat Guitars, whose music does a lot to overcome a name that put me off initially.

The stand-out to me, DM Stith, combines Dan Rossen’s (Department of Eagles, Grizzly Bear) chord structures and melodic sense with a penchant for dissonance, and Sufjan’s big arrangements with wider-eyed Christian mysticities. Stream his full album on muxtape, and check out his blog (especially the IDM Girl youtube video he’s got there). If the beginning of the record puts you off, I recommend going to the track “Fire of Birds” and listening from there. I’m pretty sure the album is designed to begin harshly and move towards peace, but the beginning might be a little brutal for some listeners.

Also, if you love any of the bands here that I’ve been dismissive about, please share why you do. I’d love to be convinced.

Be sure to catch this while it’s available!  You can stream Laura Gibson’s entire new album a week before it is released.

Laura Gibson will be playing at Mikey’s Gyros on Friday, March 27th with Seattle’s Pablo Trucker.