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Listeners of late-90s/early-00s art-punk outfit Lifter Puller are certainly accustomed to Craig Finn’s (vocals, rhythm guitar) writing and deliveryčwhich are unquestionably abrasive upon first listen.

Lifter Puller, a band based out of Minneapolis whose music and lyrics score a jagged roller coaster of shady drugs and shadier relationships, played their last show at the inauguration of the Triple Rock Social Club’s show space on June 6, 2003. Less than a year later, Finn and Ex-Lifter Puller bassist Tad Kubler formed The Hold Steady.

Almost Killed Me, The Hold Steady’s first album released on Frenchkiss Records, was an edgy narrative detailing fictional adventures of teens throughout Minneapolis and elsewhere. Separation Sunday, the band’s religiously themed sophomore effort, gained the band much more fame as it landed them a performance on Conan O’Brien and eventually garnered enough buzz to land a contract with Vagrant Records, a larger label with more resources.

Finn’s lyrics, most often delivered in fantastic evangelical rant rhymes, are only amplified by the bombastic riffage by lead guitarist Tad Kubler as well as the melodies and undertones provided by keyboardist Franz Nicolay. Boys and Girls in America finds The Hold Steady with a tight and distinct sound. It’s catchy and accessible too, a stark difference from their previous records, which sounded a little too staccato and disjointed like 80s popsters The Modern Lovers.

Though Boys and Girls in America is a fantastic record that is likely to win over millions of indie kids, it’s hard not to crave the edgier tales and dissonant structure of previous albums. Finn keeps the stories of his characters of the previous albums alive in “First Night,” which allows a potential return to those characters if desired.

Don’t be fooled by this album’s shortcomings, though, it’s still one of the best straight-up rock albums to come out in a long time, or at least since 2005’s Separation Sunday. With an average of one album per year, it can’t be too long until The Hold Steady releases another triumphant rock ‘n roll epic.