Recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me, on French Kiss Records in March 2004 and Separation Sunday a year later. In April 2006 the band signed to Vagrant Records and entered the studio on the 1st of May to begin work on their third record, Boys and Girls in America. Released in October, it was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2006 and reached a much larger audience than its predecessors.
The band released their fourth album, Stay Positive, recorded again with Boys and Girls in America producer John Agnello. Nicolay left the group and on May 4, 2010 the band released their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever, recorded with producer Dean Baltulonis.
On July 15, 2008, Stay Positive was released. It debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200. It debuted on the UK Album Chart at #15 on July 20, the third-highest new entry. It ranked #1 on the UK Indie Chart. The album was named the best of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. The song "Constructive Summer" was number 56 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Their seventh album, Thrashing Thru the Passion, was released in 2019. Among its songs, "Entitlement Crew" and "Confusion in the Marketplace," were considered standouts.
Hot Soft Light
The Hold Steady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a matter of fact I didn't even know that's where it happened.
I was France ave when they came out dancing.
I was Lyndale south. I was kicking it with cousins.
We were talking about going clubbing.
Instead we just started drinking.
Before that I was blotto.
I was blacked out. I was cracked out.
I was caved in.
You should have seen all these portals
That I've powered up in.
We started recreational.
It ended kinda medical.
It came on hot and soft and then
It tightened up its tentacles.
I wasn't there
I was blind high. I was scared.
I was Lake and Columbus.
I was cutting off all my hair.
I was unfurling a flag of defiance
Aimed at my guidance guy.
So this is it.
This is the end of the session.
I ain't gonna be taking any more questions.
I think my attorney's gonna second that notion.
It started recreational.
It ended kinda medical.
It came on hot and soft and then
It tightened up its tentacles.
The band played screaming for vengeance
And we agreed. this world is mostly manacled.
It started ice cream social nice.
It ended up all white and ecumenical.
There are guys
With wild eyes when they ask to get you high.
There are girls
That will come to you with comfort in the night.
That's right.
We started recreational.
It ended up all medical.
It came on hot and soft and then
It tightened up its tentacles.
The band played 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'
You thought it was stony and adorable.
It started in the vestibule.
It ended in the hospital.
There are guys
With the wild eyes when they ask to get you high.
There are girls
That will come to you with comfort in the night.
There are nights
Where it all comes on a little bit too bright.
There's a cross
And in the center there is a hot soft light
The lyrics of "Hot Soft Light" by The Hold Steady are rich with ambiguity and allusions to drug abuse, romantic relationships, social identity, and spiritual transcendence. The song seems to describe a series of events involving drug use and its aftermath. The singer is reflecting on scenes from his past, confessedly absent from certain key moments. He remembers being on France Ave, in Lyndale south, drinking with his cousins when something happened at the Northtown Mall. The incident seems to be one of drug-induced psychosis, a bad trip that the singer was glad he avoided. He later talks about his own experiences with drugs, how he used to be "blotto" and "cracked out," and how he powered up "portals."
The song also hints at the complexity of social dynamics and identity formation. The singer is trying to assert his independence from social norms and conformity. He cuts off his hair and unfurls a flag of defiance against his "guidance guy." The song implies that such rebellion is often accompanied by drug use and the search for transcendence. The hot, soft light that appears at the end of the song seems to symbolize some kind of spiritual or emotional awakening that comes from pushing boundaries and experiencing altered states of consciousness. Overall, "Hot Soft Light" is a song about the highs and lows of drug use and the search for meaning and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
I was not involved at the Northtown Mall.
I was not present when whatever happened at the Northtown Mall occurred. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know that's where it happened.
I was France ave when they came out dancing.
When things were happening at the Northtown Mall, I was somewhere else, specifically France Avenue. I was hanging out, having a good time, and wasn't involved at all.
I've been straight since the Cinco de Mayo.
I stopped doing drugs and drinking after the Cinco de Mayo. Before that, I was constantly intoxicated, to the point of being blacked out and cracked out.
We started recreational.
Initially, our drug use was just for fun and relaxation purposes, primarily for recreational use.
It ended kinda medical.
Our drug use eventually became a medical issue, and we were using drugs to manage something else, like pain.
It came on hot and soft and then It tightened up its tentacles.
At first, the drugs came on quick and easy, like a warm embrace. But then, they tightened their grip and took hold of us completely.
I wasn't there I was blind high. I was scared.
During some of the more difficult times, I wasn't fully present. I was too high to be aware of my surroundings, and I was often scared, feeling helpless and alone.
So this is it. This is the end of the session.
I'm done answering questions, and I'm moving on to the next phase of my life.
It started ice cream social nice.
Things started out innocently enough, like a fun and friendly ice cream social with good friends.
It ended up all white and ecumenical.
Things eventually took a dark turn, and our drug use became a problem that affected everyone in our diverse community.
There are guys With wild eyes when they ask to get you high.
There are always people around who will try to get you high or encourage your drug use, often with unsavory intentions.
That's right.
It's true, even if we don't like to admit it.
There are nights Where it all comes on a little bit too bright.
Sometimes, the drug use can get overwhelming, and the effects can be brighter and more intense than we're prepared for.
There's a cross And in the center there is a hot soft light.
At the center of it all, there's a beacon of hope and light that can guide us through the darkest moments. The light may be small, but it's powerful and comforting.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CRAIG FINN, TAD JASON KUBLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind