8/10

As the lead singer of indie-rock innovators The Hold Steady for the last two decades, the band have been instantly identified by Craig Finn's distinctive vocal delivery. His warm and poetic approach to songwriting gives him this unique place on the musical landscape, and only makes sense that he would want to pursue solo material as well. For the last ten years, Finn has been broadening himself within a solo guise, and now returns with his fifth full-length release 'A Legacy Of Rentals', a record that looks to build on his rich and powerful direction so far.

Much like some of the more easygoing moments in The Hold Steady's repertoire, 'A Legacy Of Rentals' makes a firm attempt to capture every moment of Finn's alluring storytelling. His beautifully serenading flow almost channels the likes of Tom Petty as he looks to evoke striking emotion throughout this new collection. With each track, he is spelling out a downfall that seems to get bleaker and bleaker, but with everything he writes, it is always accompanied by a broad and euphoric instrumental texture to prevent it from falling into an absolute pit of despair.

This kind of writing has been his hallmark for so long, it hardly feels like a surprise anymore. But with so much music under his belt over the years, 'A Legacy Of Rentals' is a surprising return that shows he has not lost his magic spark as he enters his fifties. Fresh and inventive, Craig Finn continues to captivate at every turn.