Craig Finn isn't a rock and roller, he is Dashiel Hannet mixed with Quentin Tarentino and shaken not stired in the Holy Wine at "Our Lord's Sacred Blood". There is nobody close to what this guy has been doing all these years. Perfect sculptured songs of sing, guilt, and, yes maybe even redemption.
"We're all wild, we're all free, we're all back from Tennessee…" Finn sings on his first solo song, begging an answer to the question, why didn't he record "Honolulu Blues" with the Hold Steady. Dunno, but I do know complaints about this song on any level are dead wrong.
I am not sure what Craig is singing about on this modified, very melodic and catchy, blues rocker, but it sure ain't happy. Missionaries mistaken for drug lords dieing in a tidal wave. And then things get worse, the locals are dying and Craig wonders "You gotta maybe think maybe Jesus's message isn't getting through…".
Which reaches, as it does so often, to a major theme in Craig's work, faith in God. Now you and I are free to believe what we feel but the truth is, people either have faith or don't. Much like being in love, you can't fake it. When Finn says "The cross reminds us that he died for me and you", his faith, as always, is part of his life.
This is first rate guitar rock Finn.
"Rented Room" is what it sounds like, a deep album track but honestly, it harbors awful well for 'Clear Heart Full Eyes' . The song has a wonderful guitar, full blooded ringing chords echoing his vocal. A thing of beauty. The song is a little on the dark side, a romance gone south leaving him alone.
I don't see how he misses his Hold Steady band so much. A great song is a great song.
Honolulu Blues Grade: A
Rented Room: Grade B