ALBUM REVIEW: The Hold Steady – Open Door Policy

Positive Jams

Released: 19.02.21

When The Hold Steady released Thrashing Thru The Passion in 2019, it felt like a band rediscovering themselves and having fun, a solid and enjoyable album. Just under two years later and its follow up, Open Door Policy, manages to fall short of that bar.

Open Door Policy is less scattershot, and reigns in some of the more familiar themes and musical cues that THS are known for. Unfortunately, it’s to the album’s detriment when paired with flat production that stops it from ever really getting going or even feeling like it’s trying to.

To give ODP its due, it is possibly a more mature offering, but bright spots like Heavy Covenant, Family Farm and The Prior Procedure can’t assuage an overall sluggishness.