Almost Killed Me is the debut studio album by Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

-based rock band The Hold Steady

The Hold Steady

The Hold Steady is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2004. The band consists of Craig Finn , Tad Kubler , Galen Polivka , Bobby Drake , and Steve Selvidge...

, released on March 16, 2004 on Frenchkiss Records

Frenchkiss Records

Frenchkiss Records is an independent record label based in New York, New York. The label was started in 1999 by Syd Butler, bassist and founder of Les Savy Fav...

. It is considered by many to be a concept album

Concept album

In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...

, with several recurring themes such as near-death experiences, parties

Party

A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....

 and the fictional character Charlemagne. Almost Killed Me was ranked number 99 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Best Albums of the Decade.

While not a full-time member of the band at this time, future keyboard player Franz Nicolay

Franz Nicolay

Franz Nicolay is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer currently based in Brooklyn, New York. He is perhaps best known for playing the accordion and the piano in The World/Inferno Friendship Society and playing keyboards in The Hold Steady from 2005 to 2010...

 makes a guest appearance on the album alongside The World/Inferno Friendship Society

The World/Inferno Friendship Society

The World/Inferno Friendship Society is a band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merges punk, soul, klezmer and jazz, while its collective membership features horns, piano and guitar. The ensemble has over 30 members, including a former member of Dexys Midnight Runners. About nine or ten members...

 bandmate Peter Hess.

Track listing

1. "Positive Jam" - 3:19
2. "The Swish" - 4:11
3. "Barfruit Blues" - 3:31
4. "Most People Are DJs" - 5:50
5. "Certain Songs" - 3:54
6. "Knuckles" - 3:46
7. "Hostile, Mass." - 3:42
8. "Sketchy Metal" - 4:17
9. "Sweet Payne" - 4:33
10. "Killer Parties" - 5:48

Bonus tracks on Australian edition

11. "Milkcrate Mosh" - 5:56
12. "Hot Fries" - 3:37
13. "Curves & Nerves" - 2:40
14. "Modesto Is Not That Sweet" - 3:12
15. "You Gotta Dance" - 2:00