HORNETS!

Forgive a latecomer, but I've been spending a fair amount of time with The Hold Steady's Separation Sunday over the last couple of months.

The Springsteen comparisons are duly noted, and classic rock fans will indeed have much truck with the music.

But what I'm taking away from it is the assonance, the flow.

Like this:

“You came into the party with a long black shawl, and the guys from the front lawn were making jokes about the white swan.”

The shawl/lawn/swan triptych is faceted, and made brilliant in its setting of long shiny surrounding vowels and sharp en sounds.

I haven't heard words roll out of a white guy with such seeming ease and apparent connection since peak Eminem...