SoundScan will tell the whole story tomorrow, but if I were The Hold Steady I’d be a bit pissed off. This Brooklyn 5-piece is one of my favorite bands. Their bar-band/slur-along rock anthems are essential pieces of my itunes library. I’m not alone; Metacritic and Wikipedia show the almost unconditional critical love out there for these guys (9.4 from Pitchfork actually happens?). Still, Boys & Girls in America dropped in 2006, and only 76,000 people paid attention. Their lead guitarist still moonlights as a photographer AND a jury-selection consultant. They deserve to make some more dollars.
The Hold Steady released Stay Positive Tuesday (7/15/08). Same critical fanfare. I went to buy the album on Wednesday and found some stocking mistakes were made. Best Buy told me they sold out Tuesday – fast. None of their locations had it. “We ordered less units than we usually do for new releases,” I was told. Same story at most of the eight Barnes & Nobles’ in Manhattan. Finally, I found a copy at the B&N Union Square.
Seems to me more records could have been sold had more been ordered by retailers. Yes, mp3 downloads and online stores are all the rage. No, it shouldn’t be the only means of distribution in an area as favorable to the Hold Steady as NYC. The sales forecasters underestimated this release. Way to play it safe. Here’s to hoping Stay Positive still ships enough units to give these artists a full-time job.
Rock on.
dp
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The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer
“i was a skeptic at first. but these miracles work”
