With every new album by The Hold Steady, the question is whether the band from New York will really succeed in breaking through in the Netherlands. The Hold Steady is adored in the United States and in England, but in our country it doesn't really go smoothly. It is not due to a lack of attention. The rockers were allowed to tour with The Rolling Stones and The Counting Crows and therefore also
… played in the Netherlands for a large audience. The group's fifth studio album leaves little or nothing to be desired. The compelling stadium rock has the credibility of Bruce Springsteen and the ingenuity of REM. Even the Achilles heel of The Hold Steady, the talkative vocals of Craig Finn, is a lot easier to digest thanks to a few years of singing lessons. Still, this rock solid record won't make the band much more popular in the Netherlands. For that, Heaven Is Whenever lacks a clear outlier that puts The Hold Steady on the map for good. The band may be from Brooklyn, but it never seems to work in Breukelen. (JE)more
