Stay Positive is the fourth studio album by the Hold Steady, released on July 15, 2008, through Vagrant Records.

"[12] Keyboard player Franz Nicolay notes that the album is his favorite, stating that it features an "integrated, nuanced, less hectic distillation of [their earlier] sound.

"[13] Stay Positive was the last studio album to feature Nicolay until 2019's Thrashing Thru the Passion, who departed from the band in early 2010 but returned in 2016.

", "Positive Jam", "Massive Nights" and "Sweet Payne", while relating them to the common theme of believing in the ideals of youth as you get older.

"Spectres" and "40 Bucks" were previously released as downloadable bonus content from the live album A Positive Rage.