Clear Heart Full Eyes
| Clear Heart Full Eyes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Craig Finn | ||||
| Released | January 24, 2012 | |||
| Recorded | July 2011 at The Mansion, Austin, TX | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, country | |||
| Label | Full Time Hobby | |||
| Producer | Mike McCarthy | |||
| Craig Finn chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| The A.V. Club | B+[2] |
| Paste Magazine | (6.4/10)[3] |
| Pitchfork | (6.0)[4] |
| Rolling Stone |  [5] |
| Tiny Mix Tapes | [6] |
| Pop 'stache | [7] |
| Robert Christgau | (B+)[8] |
Clear Heart Full Eyes is the debut solo album by The Hold Steady vocalist and guitarist Craig Finn, released on January 24, 2012 on Full Time Hobby. Produced by Mike McCarthy, the album was recorded during a five-month break from The Hold Steady, with Finn noting, "I wanted to do something with a little more storytelling and a lot less volume."[9] Upon release, the album debuted at #89 in the US.[10]
Rolling Stone named the song "Rented Room" the 40th best song of 2012.[11]
Writing and composition
Regarding his character-based lyrics and use of specific locations in his work, Finn noted, "I think it’s a whole different world [than that of The Hold Steady], the songs seem like vignettes that are a little separate from each other. But at the same time, I can’t help... "The Wagon Wheel" comes up twice on the record, and that’s a fictitious bar I’m thinking of, and that happens in two different songs. So somehow, I still am attracted to creating these worlds, but I don’t see the characters on the solo record interacting as much."[12]
Track listing
- "Apollo Bay" 5:46
- "When No One's Watching" 3:46
- "No Future" 3:44
- "New Friend Jesus" 3:10
- "Jackson" 3:18
- "Terrified Eyes" 4:47
- "Western Pier" 3:52
- "Honolulu Blues" 4:15
- "Rented Room" 4:36
- "Balcony" 3:13
- "Not Much Left Of Us" 4:12
Personnel
Musicians
- Craig Finn - vocals, guitar
- Josh Block - drums, percussion
- Jesse Ebaugh - bass guitar, upright bass, bass six, organ
- Ricky Ray Jackson - guitars, pedal steel
- Billy White - guitars, bass six
- Catherine Davis - piano, organ, keyboards
- Katie Holmes - fiddle
- Hope Irish - backing vocals
- Will Johnson - backing vocals
Recording personnel
- Mike McCarthy - producer
- Jim Vollentine - additional engineering
- Matthew Smith - assistant engineer
- Greg Calbi - mastering
Artwork
- Christian Helms - art direction, design
- Erick Montes - art direction, design
- Susan Helms - cover textile art
- Andrew Yates - photography
- Don Weir - photography
References
- ↑ Heaney, Gregory. "Clear Heart Full Eyes - Craig Finn | Allmusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ↑ Hyden, Steven. "Clear Heart Full Eyes - Craig Finn | The A.V. Club". avclub.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
- ↑ "Craig Finn: Clear Heart Full Eyes". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
- ↑ Deusner, Stephen M. "Craig Finn: Clear Heart Full Eyes | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ↑ Sheffield, Rob. "Clear Heart Full Eyes | Rolling Stone". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ↑ Bloom, J Arthur. "Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes | Tiny Mix Tapes". tinymixtapes.com. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ↑ "Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes Album Review for Pop 'stache".
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Craig Finn". Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ↑ http://www.avclub.com/articles/craig-finn,68176/
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299722/craig+finn/chart
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/craig-finn-rented-room-19691231
- ↑ http://www.avclub.com/articles/craig-finn,68176/