| Clear Heart Full Eyes | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Craig Finn |
| Cover: | Chfe.jpg |
| Released: | January 24, 2012 |
| Recorded: | July 2011 at The Mansion, Austin, TX |
| Genre: | Indie rock, country |
| Label: | Full Time Hobby |
| Producer: | Mike McCarthy |
| Next Title: | Faith in the Future |
| Next Year: | 2015 |
Clear Heart Full Eyes is the debut solo album by The Hold Steady vocalist and guitarist Craig Finn, released on January 24, 2012 on Full Time Hobby. Produced by Mike McCarthy, the album was recorded during a five-month break from The Hold Steady, with Finn noting, "I wanted to do something with a little more storytelling and a lot less volume."[1] Upon release, the album debuted at #89 in the US.
Rolling Stone named the song "Rented Room" the 40th best song of 2012.[2]
Regarding his character-based lyrics and use of specific locations in his work, Finn noted, "I think it’s a whole different world [than that of The Hold Steady], the songs seem like vignettes that are a little separate from each other. But at the same time, I can’t help... "The Wagon Wheel" comes up twice on the record, and that’s a fictitious bar I’m thinking of, and that happens in two different songs. So somehow, I still am attracted to creating these worlds, but I don’t see the characters on the solo record interacting as much."[1]