Craig Finn – Always Been

What a fantastic pairing of indie rock royalty: The Hold Steady’s frontman and singer-songwriter Craig Finn, produced by The War On Drugs’ frontman Adam Granduciel. Together, they have created Finn’s sixth solo album. Finn has such a distinct vocal and lyrical style that it is hard to distinguish between The Hold Steady and his solo work. The first time I heard this album, I was struck by the slickness, in a good way. Finn’s limited talky vocals sounded the best he ever has, per Finn in an Under Radar magazine interview: “I’m singing pretty well, for me.” Granduciel’s 80s AOR sheen is the perfect accompaniment for Finn, resulting in a different-sounding Finn from his usual solo work and work in The Hold Steady.

Finn’s gift is that he can tell a short story in the course of a song. His storytelling has never been better than on Always Been. Some songs are about the same character – a middle-aged man in emotional crisis. Finn’s stories have a realness that on paper should be downers, but somehow he makes them uplifting. I have liked every The Hold Steady and Craig Finn solo album, but this one resonates with me and is one of my favorite albums of 2025.