It’s been 10 long years since The Hold Steady released their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever. To mark the anniversary, the band will reissue an expanded deluxe edition of the LP featuring previously unreleased demos, live recordings, and songs.
Due out November 27th via Vagrant Records, the double-album reissue consists of a newly remastered version of Heaven Is Whenever, along with nine (!) bonus tracks. Some of these unearthed songs are called “Ascension Blues”, “Touchless”, “Beer on the Bedstand”, and “Wonderful Struggle”. There’s also an alternate take on “We Can Get Together”.
For those fans hankering for even more goodies, the digital iteration of this release comes with an additional six tracks. Most are live takes from The Hold Steady’s Avatar Sessions, plus a demo recording of “Beer on the Bedstand”.
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public
The 10th anniversary edition of Heaven Is Whenever also boasts liner notes from Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood, who praises:
“HEAVEN IS WHENEVER saw one of the most loved bands of this, then still-new century take a perceived stumble and face a small comeuppance. It happens. Many bands don’t survive it, much less come out the other side intact and possibly better than ever…A lesser band might have imploded. Lesser artists might have tried to continue on repeating a successful template that denied the real consequences of the machine they built. Instead they dug deep and pushed onward into a darker night of the soul.”
To tease the reissue, The Hold Steady are sharing previously unreleased song “Separate Vacations”. Stream that below, and then head here to pre-order your copy of the deluxe edition of Heaven Is Whenever in digital or physical formats (black vinyl and limited-edition colored vinyl).
Heaven Is Whenever Deluxe Edition Tracklist:
DISC 1:
01. The Sweet Part of the City
02. Soft in the Center
03. The Weekenders
04. The Smidge
05. Rock Problems
06. We Can Get Together
07. Hurricane J
08. Barely Breathing
09. Our Whole Lives
10. A Slight Discomfort
DISC 2:
01. Ascension Blues *
02. Touchless *
03. Separate Vacations *
04. Criminal Fingers *
05. Beer On The Bedstand *
06. At Least Not Tonight *
07. Wonderful Struggle *
08. Going On A Hike *
09. We Can Get Together (Alternate) *
DSP-ONLY Bonus Tracks:
01. Hurricane J (Avatar Sessions) *
02. Our Whole Lives (Avatar Sessions) *
03. Separate Vacations (Avatar Sessions) *
04. Going On A Hike (Avatar Sessions) *
05. We Can Get Together (Avatar Sessions) *
06. Beer On The Bedstand (Demo) *
* BONUS TRACKS