Brooklyn rock act the Hold Steady will release its third album, “Boys and Girls in America,” Oct. 3 via Vagrant. With just three days off, the band spent the entire month of May recording at Hoboken, N.J.’s Water Music Studios. The sessions marked several changes for the group, which broke through with 2005’s “Separation Sunday.”
“This was the first time we did demos, and was the first time we were working with someone who was producing,” guitarist Tad Kubler tells Billboard.com. “John [Agnello] came into the practice space a couple of times, and gave us his input on a few things. I think it was the first time any of us have ever had that experience. It’s having some fresh ears, and also, not someone who is involved in the ‘creative process of creating.'”
Lead singer Craig Finn understands the move from French Kiss to Vagrant may surprise some fans “People say, ‘Wow, I can’t believe you’re going to this label that has Get Up Kids and Dashboard Confessional,'” he says. “People also never talk about how they have Paul Westerberg and Rocket From The Crypt, two artists that make perfect sense”
A number of tunes on “Boys and Girls” are enriched by the presence of keyboard player Franz Nicolay, whose contributions have become a “more realized part of our sound,” says Finn. “The nice thing about piano is that it is such a dynamic instrument, it gives it [the songs] more space.”
The album’s title is a reference to a line from Jack Kerouac’s classic novel “On the Road.” Finn explains, “The line goes, ‘Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together.’ Basically, the songs are about guys and girls, and love. It’s not a concept-type record like the last one — it’s more of a theme record.”
After a handful of shows next month, including a stop at Lollapalooza in Chicago, the Hold Steady will hit major North American markets in October, beginning Oct. 1 at New York’s Irving Plaza.
Here is the track listing for “Boys and Girls in America”
“Stuck Between Stations”
“Chips Ahoy!”
“Hot Soft Light”
“Same Kooks”
“First Night”
“Party Pit”
“You Can Make Him Like You”
“Massive Night”
“Citrus”
“Chillout Tent”
“Southtown Girls”
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