As I mentioned in my Hold Steady B-sides post from a few months back, Craig Finn is one of the lyricists I most admire. He's got a striking and original voice, complete with unique phrasing and offbeat imagery; oddly grounded and yet almost more poetic for it. He's never overtly surreal, his characters are exaggerated but remain tangible and realistic, and the streets and landmarks he speaks about are actual places you can go to. Add to that elements of crime fiction, The Replacements, wayward Catholicism and Bruce Springseen and you might begin to get an idea of what Finn---and The Hold Steady---are about.
Lifter Puller (or LFTR PLLR), Finn's first band (which also featured HS guitarist Tad Kubler as bassist on their final album), is a somewhat different beast, but no less interesting. More noisy and post-punk than bar-band, Lifter Puller offers an early peek at Finn as a developing lyricist and frontman. The song I'm posting here could even be read as a mission statement of sorts: a song-length dedication to the people druggies, lowlifes and music fans that make up Finn's vivid world.
I don't know about you, but when Finn sings the line, "Dude looks like Jesus / But sleeveless", I can't help but smile.
Here's the download link:
Lifter Puller - "Let's Get Incredible"
Enjoy.
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