Album Review: Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes

Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes (2012, Vagrant)

Spotify

-By Justin

Craig Finn, while flawed, is one of my favorite songwriters. His use of recurring themes and characters can be at times brilliant and at other times incredibly frustrating. He’s made some amazing albums with The Hold Steady and Lifter Puller. So now that he’s finally on his own for once, does his lyricism hold up? Mostly yes. Clear Heart Full Eyes contains both the best and worst of his abilities, which makes for a very interesting record.

Without Tad Kubler’s epic guitar work, Finn is the onus on Clear Heart Full Eyes. Every song lives and dies by his lyrics. Of course he is still as referential as always. A good example of this is on what I would say the best song on the album, “No Future”, where he brings up both Freddy Mercury and Johnny Rotten. It’s actually on his more depressing songs where Finn excels on this album, which is strange for me cause most of my favorite Hold Steady songs are the upbeat anthemic songs like “Stay Positive” and “Massive Nights”. Probably the most upbeat song on the album “New Friend Jesus” might actually be my least favorite song on the album, except the lyrics “It’s hard to suck with Jesus in your band”.

Finn’s narratives seem very strange at times. He references multiple names that have no meaning and it can be hard to find the emotional connection with the characters. This is specifically a problem on “Jackson”, which has a strong narrative but lacks any feeling. In contrast, “Terrified Eyes” is a great example of his style. It’s an almost beautiful depiction of depression, alcoholism, and mental health. The lyrics “It’s obvious to anyone the way she took her medication at the bar. The way she crossed herself when it’s the bartender’s round” Is so powerful but almost understated that it’s a perfect example of his masterful songwriting.

The album winds down in the second half. “Western Point” is fine but unspectacular. “Honolulu Blues” is another of my least favorite song on the album. Again we see this pattern of more upbeat songs being almost strangely not up to par. This album seems almost cathartic at times, and maybe it would have been best for Finn to just focus on the emotionally heavy aspects that he put forward on previous songs.

The album ends on a very strong point on a trilogy of what seems like loosely related songs. “Rented Rooms” is another one of my favorite songs. It’s a very personal look at love and loss and the things you remember of past loves. “Balcony” is the final break up, where she is getting her things and making the final break. “Not Much Left of Us” is the final aftermath, the narrator having a chance meeting with his lost love. These songs really make the album and prove Finn’s adeptness as a lyricist.

Clear Heart Full Eyes is an album of weird contradictions. Many of the songs deal with loss, wanting to go back to better times, and addiction. In between this are a few upbeat songs that don’t seem to really fit on the album. Finn’s lyricism stays strong throughout though, and he has proven again that he is one of the best contemporary songwriters.

7.6/10

Songs I Starred On Spotify:

• When No One’s Watching
• No Future
• Terrified Eyes
• Rented Rooms
• Balcony
• Not Much Left Of Us