Clear Heart Full Eyes

I've gotten one full, intermittently interrupted listen to Craig Finn's first solo record. The initial verdict is very favorable. The sound is much less Replacements/classic rock, and much more alt-country. Craig has not swapped his speak-sing for anything more traditional (which is good) but stripped of Tad's guitars and the busy keyboards of the last few Hold Steady records, his vocals carry the songs well. I haven't gotten the chance to analyze the lyrics, but there seems to be a lot of religious imagery going on here, and a fair bit of lapsed Catholic guilt. There's also a Sex Pistols reference in "No Future" which is cool. First impression: really good stuff.