If it's not broken, don't fix it.
That seems to be the motto that the Hold Steady has employed on its fourth album, "Stay Positive." The Brooklyn-based quintet utilizes all of the tools that gave it initial success - bright guitar riffs, pounding drums, and frontman Craig Finn's trademark growling/singing/speaking vocals - but occasionally tweaking the formula, creating a few darker, more theatrical tracks.
The rest of the album is full of energetic and predictable Southern rock-influenced jams. The title track's "ooh ooh" hook is catchy, and first single "Sequestered in Memphis" makes many a toe tap, but they're nothing that hasn't been done before. It's obvious that the Hold Steady is having fun playing the music, but that doesn't save the remaining tracks from being pretty forgettable.
"Stay Positive" is not groundbreaking by any means. It is a decent album, but not for listeners who are thirsting for something unique and exotic.
