Craig Finn

Whether as the singer for The Hold Steady or the late, great Twin Cities post-punk outfit Lifter Puller, Craig Finn is known for plying his effusive storytelling craft in front of bands. So it was a learning experience when Finn set out to make his first solo record, Clear Heart Full Eyes, released in January 2012. Recorded in Austin with Spoon producer Mike McCarthy, Clear Heart features the sort of colorful tales about down-and-out characters that have become Finn’s specialty, only this time, presented in a stripped-down, singer-songwriter vein. It’s starker, less optimistic, and not nearly as loud as a typical Hold Steady record, though Finn plans to get back to rocking soon, as the band is currently working on its sixth record.

Updated 05/22/2012