Craig Finn, frontman of The Hold Steady, has announced his sixth solo album Always Been and dropped its lead single, ‘People of Substance.’ The album is set for release on April 4 via Tamarac Records/Thirty Tigers.
‘People of Substance’ is classic Finn—sharp, narrative-driven lyrics layered over rich, Americana-soaked instrumentation. The song leans into his signature storytelling style, fleshed out with vivid characters and deadpan observations, all wrapped in a sound that feels both familiar and fresh.
“This is the most narrative record I’ve ever made,” Finn said of the record. “Most songs revolve around a protagonist who pursued a career as a clergyman despite a lack of faith. It’s a story of his rise, fall, and redemption, with all the messy details of his life in between. I’m really proud of what we made—I hope people enjoy it.”
Always Been was produced by Adam Granduciel of The War On Drugs at his Burbank, California studio. Other members of The War On Drugs also contributed musically. The record features guest vocals from Kathleen Edwards and Sam Fender, adding extra layers to Finn’s already textured sound.
This isn’t the first time Finn and The War On Drugs have crossed paths. Back in 2022, they teamed up for the band’s Drugcember To Remember tour, covering tracks by Warren Zevon, John Hiatt, and Bob Seger. Granduciel has also been busy producing Sam Fender’s upcoming album People Watching, due out later this month.
The tracklist for Always Been promises more of Finn’s signature blend of literary songwriting and sprawling Americana influences:
- Bethany
- People of Substance
- Crumbs
- Luke & Leanna
- The Man I’ve Always Been
- Fletcher’s
- A Man Needs A Vocation
- I Walk With A Cane
- Clayton
- Postcards
- Shamrock (digital only)
Finn’s last solo record, A Legacy of Rentals, dropped in 2022, while The Hold Steady’s most recent album, The Price of Progress, landed in 2023, with the band calling it their “most sonically expansive record” to date. With Always Been, Finn continues to cement himself as one of the most distinctive voices in modern rock—equal parts novelist, poet, and barroom storyteller.
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