What's The Story?
The Hold Steady are a 4-piece (nee 5-piece) indie rock outfit from Brooklyn that Wikipedia affectionately identifies as "heartland rock". Sequestered In Memphis is from their fourth studio album Stay Positive, their last where Franz Nicolay claimed membership with the band on keys.
Who's To Blame?
If you're reading this blog on a BlackBerry, he may have had a part in it.
Why ♥ It?
If there's one word to describe this song, it's fun. Everything about it carries a great mood, and from 0:01 through to the end, it's hard not to get sucked in along with that mood.
There are an array of instruments working together and doing different, interlocking things that make this tune great, and there isn't a single regrettable facet. A few examples though; the guitar tone and riff sound a little reminiscent of Do The Evolution (see 0:28), except rather than using this for a chaotic mood, the song adds organs, horns and group vocals to flow in an upbeat fashion. The guitar licks found in the song are fun, and would appeal to classic rock fans. The chorus piano is incredibly uplifting. The breakdown to group vocal and subsequent piano roll to bring it back in (starting around 2:40) is a tried and true staple, used perfectly.
Lyrically, the song seems to tell the story of a drunken hook-up in the Southern US that led to legal trouble, and it unfolds to the listener like an episode of a happy-go-lucky 90s sitcom. I almost wonder if the entirety of the lyrics are written as an excuse to be able to sing the ultra-fun-to-say title. If so, The Hold Steady can be absolved completely, because the song has one of the most singalongable choruses you'll ever hear.
Ya know what, if there's one thing I don't want to do while listening to this tune, it's hold steady. I'd much rather sing and dance around my room when no one's looking, thank you very much.
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