The Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn has announced his new solo album ‘Always Been’ and shared the single ‘People Of Substance’ – listen below.
It will be the singer’s sixth solo album and will be released on April 4 via Tamarac Records/Thirty Tigers. You can pre-order/pre-save your copy here.
‘People Of Substance’ is on streaming services now and sees Finn bringing back his trademark droll lyrical style over a rich, Americana-flavoured full band backing. Listen to the track and watch its video here:
“I believe this to be the most narrative record I have made,” Craig Finn has said. “Most songs concern a protagonist who pursued a career as a clergyman despite a lack of faith. The record tells the story of his rise and fall and redemption, while also filling out the details of his travels and the world in which he lives. I am very proud of what we made, I hope you enjoy.”
The album has been produced by The War On Drugs’ Adam Granduciel at his studio in Burbank, California and features musical contributions from Granduciel and other members of The War On Drugs and guest vocals from Kathleen Edwards and Sam Fender.
‘Always Been’ tracklist:
- ‘Bethany’
- ‘People Of Substance’
- ‘Crumbs’
- ‘Luke & Leanna’
- ‘The Man I’ve Always Been’
- ‘Fletcher’s’
- ‘A Man Needs A Vocation’
- ‘I Walk With A Cane’
- ‘Clayton’
- ‘Postcards’
- ‘Shamrock’ (digital only)
Finn and The War On Drugs have collaborated in the past, including on a series of covers at the Philadelphia band’s Drugcember To Remember tour in 2022, where they played songs by Warren Zevon, John Hiatt and Bob Seger. Granduciel, meanwhile, has also worked on Fender’s upcoming new album ‘People Watching’, which is out later this month.
Finn’s last solo album was 2022’s ‘A Legacy Of Rentals’, while The Hold Steady last put out a full-length in 2023 with ‘The Price Of Progress’, which the band described as their “most sonically expansive record” to date.
