Soul Asylum's Mediocre Breakthrough Album
Written: Jan 26 '05
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Three good singles, a few good songs (note: not excellent)
Cons: Similar melody and tone across the songs, schizophrenic style
The Bottom Line: Grave Dancer's Union is mostly forgettable despite a few bright spots.
|
|
|
| lambchops's Full Review: Grave Dancers Union by Soul Asylum |
On one hand Grave Dancer Union contains a few of Soul Asylum's best songs. Unfortunately, resting in the palm of the other hand is the fact that the band's breakthrough album is on the whole mediocre and unimpressive. It was clear by the time it was released in 1992 that the formerly underground Minneapolis band had all but ditched their rock root in favor of a more pop slant. For better or for worse, this is what got Soul Asylum noticed.
It was likely by design that the band didn't score a bona fide mainstream hit until a triptych of singles landed on Billboard charts in 1992 and 1993. Prior to signing with Columbia, Soul Asylum seemed content making guitar-laden college rock. Unfortunately for Soul Asylum, the Minneapolis music scene was already "happening." Their early Twin Tone successes were all but lost in the shadow of brethren Husker Du and the Replacements. It took the band literally a decade to get noticed. Suddenly the dread-locked Dave Pirner (vocals, guitar, lyrics), Dan Murphy (guitar), Karl Mueller (bass), and drummer Grant Young were thrust into the spotlight and held up as an alternative to the moody rock of the era.
Of course in 1992 the world alternative had come to mean little and didn't necessarily do anything to bolster a band's image. When veritable PSA Runaway Train found its way onto every radio in the country and was splashed across MTV every hour on the hour it was clear that the old Soul Asylum was gone forever. Sure the song was good and the images of runaways and missing children were useful but there's a point at which even the best song can be rendered unimportant by over saturation. This is precisely what happened with the pensive Runaway Train.
Grave Dancer's Union has more to offer than just one overplayed song. Somebody to Shove and Black Gold are also relatively popular songs with the latter ranking as one of my two favorites from the band (the other being Just Like Anyone). In comparison with the other country-rock and pop-rock songs across this album, they rock pretty hard. While not heavy metal or even really hard rock by definition because of Pirner's nasally boy-like delivery and the distinct attention to melody, both Somebody to Shove and Black Gold are populated by a good deal of energy and plenty of guitars.
Outside of those first three tracks, listeners will be surprised to find that Grave Dancer's Union contains quite a lot of Wilco-style alt-country. There are also a fair number of alt-pop songs. The band seems somewhat uncomfortable wearing this wide variety of hats. The odd collection of sounds also makes for a challenging listen. At times it is rewarding, but usually I'm bored by the whole thing. I wish Soul Asylum had picked a direction and stuck with it. Plus, I'm none too impressed with the distinct lack of melodic variety. Whether the song is loud or soft, slow or fast it has the same feel. It is clear that the band got real comfortable doing one thing--even if they only did it somewhat well.
The best of the non-single songs are languid country-rocker Homesick, the hip honky-tonk of Get on Out, and the mid-tempo alt-rocker April Fool (which by the way sounds a bit like something the band Extreme would have put together). While I do really love the rock facet of Soul Asylum, they seem best suited for country-rock. It really is a shame that they never really dedicated themselves to pursuing that musical avenue because I may still be listening to their new music today rather than passing it up time and time again.
The fact that there is little to say about most of Grave Dancer's Union is indicative of fault I find in the album--it is unremarkable and uninteresting and while I do want to love it I can't help but feel under whelmed by the whole experience. What is most unfortunate is that this is probably their most consistent effort to date. 1995 followup Let Your Dim Light Shine had its moments but Grave Dancer's Union doesn't have one moment that really rubs me the wrong way. It's just too monotonous to elicit that kind of response.
…yawn…
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Somebody to Shove
02. Black Gold
03. Runaway Train
04. Keep It Up
05. Homesick
06. Get on Out
07. New World
08. April Fool
09. Without a Trace
10. Growing into You
11. 99%
12. The Sun Maid
________________________
Related Review:
Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995)
http://www.epinions.com/content_37439180420
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
lambchops
|
 in Music |
 - Top 50 |
|
Member: Shelly T.
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan
Reviews written: 1170
Trusted by: 843 members
About Me:
I have hope.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.