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9.0
123635
9.0 |
God Is In The TV
Open Door Policy, their eighth album, no less, sits right up there as one of their finest works yet
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8.3
123696
8.3 |
A.V. Club
On Open Door Policy, The Hold Steady evolve from bar hounds into lounge lizards
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8.1
123666
8.1 |
Paste Magazine
Rockers’ latest is their most musically adventurous album yet
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8.0
123611
8.0 |
Exclaim
If art mimics life, then Open Door Policy's musical tension, timely themes and efforts to reimagine the band while remaining authentic deftly capture today's world
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8.0
123612
8.0 |
Slant Magazine
The album retains the spirit of the band’s early output while also offering songs that sound fresh and relevant
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8.0
123617
8.0 |
Vinyl Chapters
The group seem to be gelling once more and that is clear through the music they have produced for this record. The future continues to look bright for the group and that can only be a good thing for indie fans and the music industry alike
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8.0
123622
8.0 |
Uncut
A confident reiteration of this singular group's virtues. Print edition only
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8.0
123626
8.0 |
musicOMH
The best thing Finn and company have produced in over a decade
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8.0
123702
8.0 |
Clash
The album’s upbeat energy is feverish. It allows space for comical and witty intervention among its deeper subjects and doesn’t delve into the realms of taking itself too seriously
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8.0
123715
8.0 |
American Songwriter
Expressed from a first person point of view, the music comes across with a sense of unease, urgency and uncertainty, which, in turn, boosts both interest and intrigue
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8.0
123655
8.0 |
All Music
By focusing on bringing light and shade into the margins, the Hold Steady wound up with an album that feels vivid and alive; it's as if the songs themselves have a life outside of the recording
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8.0
124041
8.0 |
Punk News
Musically, this the best The Hold Steady have sounded since Stay Positive
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7.6
123716
7.6 |
Beats Per Minute
Their insistence for organic compositions stands out thoughtfully on Open Door Policy, and it reminds us precisely why we fell in love with The Hold Steady in the first place
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7.6
123719
7.6 |
Pitchfork
Dark, ominous, but still marching forth with that same bar-rock passion, the Hold Steady feel more unified, making a place for each member within their music’s newfound sprawl
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7.0
123779
7.0 |
Sungenre
While the band may never return to the raw disorder of their earlier work and Finn may not be at the highest highs he once operated at, both have plenty more to say before The Hold Steady calls it quits
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7.0
123846
7.0 |
No Ripcord
Even with eight albums to their name, The Hold Steady continue to prove that consistency doesn’t mean going stale
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7.0
123640
7.0 |
DIY
There’s little in the way of new ground broken here, but it’s consistent nonetheless
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7.0
123683
7.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
The Hold Steady offer up sweet relief on another immersive musical treasure trove
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6.9
123668
6.9 |
Spectrum Culture
Perhaps the best thing that could be said about Open Door Policy is that it’s a Hold Steady album, with all the merits and flaws that go with that signifier
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6.5
123964
6.5 |
Under The Radar
The Hold Steady clearly have more to say and do in their second act, and the record points to how rewarding the possibilities can be
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6.0
123671
6.0 |
PopMatters
Like the title implies, it's hard to see the Hold Steady's latest album as something more than just another shrewd career move
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