Almost Killed Me

Certain Songs #592: The Hold Steady – “Killer Parties”

July 15, 2016 by Jim Connelly

Album: Almost Killed Me
Year: 2004

“There is so much joy in what we do up here!!”

That’s what Craig Finn would exclaim at some point during live versions of “Killer Parties,” when the massive anthem that closed Almost Killed Me would close their live shows in the early days.

Like, for example, the first time I ever saw them, at the Troubadour in 2006.

Certain Songs #591: The Hold Steady – “Barfruit Blues”

July 13, 2016 by Jim Connelly

Album: Almost Killed Me
Year: 2004

One of the ironies of Certain Songs is that the song “Certain Songs” isn’t a Certain Song.

While the sentiment — “certain songs, they get so scratched into our souls” — is the ethos that powers this entire project, honestly compels me to point out that it’s not one of my favorites musically.

So just in case one of you other Hold Steady fanatics was waiting for the collision of Certain Songs and “Certain Songs,” my deepest apologies.

Certain Songs #590: The Hold Steady – “The Swish”

July 12, 2016 by Jim Connelly

Album: Almost Killed Me
Year: 2004

I don’t recall 2005 all that fondly.

While it never came close to killing me, I was stuck in a job that I absolutely hated, and we were either dealing with or had just dealt with some terrible neighbors that made even going home from work almost as bad as dealing with work. Hell, I might have even been developing an ulcer.

So I was not in a good place at all. That was about the time that “The Swish” came into my life, and through it, the affection I had already developed for The Hold Steady through Separation Sunday turned into full-out love.