What is the Deal With the Hold Steady?

Now I have to pretend at parties that, yeah, I've heard good things about them, and I liked the one song I heard, but no I'm not that familiar with them. Thusly will I betray the fact that the Hold Steady bore me to tears. Not since the Rapture have I been so thoroughly underwhelmed by a Pitchfork-endorsed band. Craig Finn talks, but he isn't funny or charismatic like Eddie Argos. He just talks. Boringly.