THE Hold Steady remain, to this listener at least, one of the leading half-under-the-radar bands in America. The best starting point remains Boys And Girls in America, from 2006, but Craig Finn and co never produce anything that isn’t loud and literate in some way or other, including 2010’s Heaven Is Whenever.

The songs are short-story sketches, often looking back at adolescence through older eyes, a good trick that continues to pay dividends, with Finn’s half-spoken delivery propelling what occasionally sound like undiscovered scraps of Springsteen, perhaps, but good scraps. The ten songs suggest a new maturity, without losing any of the sour nostalgia. I Hope This Whole Thing Didn’t Frighten You is a typical Hold Steady statement and song, and a glorious start.

Highlights include The Ambassador, On With The Business and the nine-minute closer, Oaks. New guitarist Steve Selvidge adds to the sound created by Tad Kubler, filling in gaps left by departed keyboard man Franz Nicolay.