The Hold Steady- "Massive Nights" from Boys and Girls of America

I liked it on first listen. It's not often a band manages to combine great music plus lyrics that are clever and beg to be looked up and printed. "Massive Nights" tells the story of a pretty wild dance back in the day, sounding like it's being told by the guy who lives across the hall while he's singing in the shower. Perhaps the song itself could have played during that dance. Granted, it's no magical prom night, referencing venue's bathrooms and a perpetually hovering chaperone, but if nothing else the night was memorable and made for a good story. High school, in other words. The drums and guitar make for what can only be described as a kicky beat and are used with skill never overtaking the song in an overly enthusiastic attempt to be kick ass rock. These guys sound like they know what they're doing-- which is not always a given in these matters. Kudos to The Hold Steady for creating an anthem for the good times.