Join in The Hold Steady’s welcome-back bash with energized tracks, “Entitlement Crew” and “A Snake In The Shower”

One of XPN’s favorite live-wire rock ‘n’ roll goofballs, The Hold Steady, are back with two new tracks: “Entitlement Crew” and “A Snake In The Shower.” Released through Frenchkiss Records, these songs mark the return from a four year absence since The Hold Steady’s last album, Teeth Dreams, and a decade since longtime keyboard player Franz Nicolay, has been included on the lineup. Now, with Nicolay back, The Hold Steady are ready for further cheeky shenanigans.

If nothing else, first track, “Entitlement Crew,” sounds like an celebratory welcome party to this return home. Chocked full of energy, the song rides on frontman Craig Finn’s colorful one-liners and is further uplifted in a bounty of Gospel-infused organ and a later shift into a funky disco hurrah.

“Snake in the Shower” takes a darker turn as searing guitar and underlying spooky vibes shift listening into a heavier atmosphere. Though uptempo beats and an inherent liveliness keep the track from sounding anything too morose, lyrics describing chaos, weird events, and thoughts of death stand in stark contrast to “Entitlement Crew’s” brighter words — even with the possibility of them being completely drenched in irony.

The Hold Steady is currently in the midst of their four day hooplah called Massive Nights at Brooklyn Bowl in New York. The shows are super sold out, so props to you if you get to join in the party. Find more info that here, and listen to the two new tracks below.