Best known as the singer of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Combining literary influences like Jack Kerouac and John Berryman with the musical influences of Bruce Springsteen and fellow Minnesotan Paul Westerberg, Finn's lyrical style has a strong focus on narrative, crafting relatable, deeply detailed characters who live at the core of his stories. While the lyrical style of Finn's solo material resembled his work with his band, the music is more subdued and atmospheric, with keyboards often playing a larger role than the guitars, and his spoken-sung vocals taking the lead over the melodies. The moody sound of 2015's Faith in the Future and 2017's We All Want the Same Things matured into a richer, soul-influenced attack on 2019's I Need a New War, while his narratives developed greater complexity on 2022's A Legacy of Rentals.