I agree with PK's recommendation of Boys and Girls in America, and then I'd go for Stay Positive, and finally the new one, Heaven is Whenever. The long time fans swear by their earlier effort, Separation Sunday, but I've struggled with it. The thing about The Hold Steady is that their tunes are not uniformly excellent, but the good ones are really good! It's classic rock guitar riffs with a heavy dose of substance abuse narratives with a dose of religious imagery. Weird but it works for Craig Finn. His influences have been The Replacements, Husker Du, Springsteen, and Joe Strummer. I think it'll agree with you, Ed.

If you're looking to cherry pick individual songs on iTunes, I'd go with: Constructive Summer, Massive Nights, Magazines, Chips Ahoy, Stuck Between Stations, Stay Positive, Sequestered in Memphis, First Night, Hurricane J, Our Whole Lives.

Seeing The Hold Steady in person, Ed, is pretty damn powerful.

Peter T.

BTW, Ed, I have a Frank Turner compilation coming your way soon. If I had time, I'd do the same for The Hold Steady, but I've got a pile of grading to do.