Written over the course of 2020, A Legacy Of Rentals explores the line between song and straight storytelling, with contributions from frequent musical partners including saxophonist Stuart Bogie, backing vocalists Cassandra Jenkins and Annie Nero, and the rhythm section of Joe Russo on drums and Michael Libramento on bass.

Compared to past solo releases, this new collection was recorded with the help of a 14-piece string section including violins, violas, and cellos, instead of the usually horn-heavy sounds that Craig and the Hold Steady are known for. The string section, arranged and recorded by Trey Pollard at Spacebomb, provides a drama and grandiose elegance that sets the album apart from anything in Finn’s previous body of work.

“The title A Legacy Of Rentals acknowledges that we can never completely hold any of our possessions,” Finn says, “and that our bodies are merely a temporary residence for our souls. All moments are fleeting. After the destruction of the past few years, I believe that there is joy in each and every living action, however mundane – walking to the kitchen, missing a train, spilling coffee, cleaning it up, meeting a friend for a meal. We all want to be remembered. We all want our time here to be consequential. In taking these daily actions, we engage in hope, and we guarantee our unique place in history.”

Recorded with Finn’s longtime collaborators, producer Josh Kaufman and engineer D. James Goodwin, A Legacy Of Rentals is available on CD, standard vinyl, and limited-edition white vinyl (online orders only).

Best known as the singer of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn is a Minnesota-bred singer, songwriter, and guitarist based out of New York City. Combining literary influences like Jack Kerouac and John Berryman with the musical influences of Bruce Springsteen and fellow Minnesotan Paul Westerberg, Finn's highly descriptive lyrical style has a strong focus on narrative, crafting whole worlds for the people in his songs to exist within.