Some songs on this album cause me "Misery"
Written: Aug 27 '01 (Updated Feb 28 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great tracks like Just Like Anyone
Cons: Really repetitive at times...boring songs...
The Bottom Line: This is a so-so album marked by some really good songs.
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| lambchops's Full Review: Let Your Dim Light Shine by Soul Asylum |
Who would have thought the diminuitive dreadlocked Dave Pirner and company could have possibly become multi-platinum selling alternative rockers? Definitely not me upon first hearing the band in the early 1990's.
Soul Asylum was first formed as a high school garage band in 1981. Their original name was Loud Fast Rules. The band featured Pirner on drums along with guitarist Dan Murphy and bassist Karl Mueller. By 1984, the Minneapolis band had switched Pirner to vocals and guitar and added Grant Young on drums. This lineup was steady through the release of the album I'm reviewing entitled Let Your Dim Light Shine except for the removal of Young and addition of Sterling Campbell in his place.
The little band from Minnesota released three albums through indie label Twin Tone. Yet, Soul Asylum was overshadowed by label-mates and fellow Minneapolis band Husker Du. Following the deal between Twin Tone and A&M Records, the band was finally able to gain the recognition they so deserved. It was under the A&M that the band fell out of favor with their indie following and managed to release two major-label records Hang Time and And The Horse They Rode in On.
But alas, Soul Asylum still lacked an audience. It was with the Columbia release of Grave Dancers Union that the band finally got the audience they needed to "make it" in the music business. The video and single for Runaway Train are what made people take notice. It was a public announcement of sorts. The video featured the pictures of lost and missing children. It was a sad note to start a career in the public eye, but sure enough it did garner enough attention to get them as an act at President Clinton's 1992 inauguration. But the song that first touched me as special was Black Gold Let me just say I loved it.
The 1995 release of Let Your Dim Light Shine was highly anticipated. It only managed to reach the sixth position on the Billboard album chart. The most popular and best selling single of this album was Misery...it plateaued at the eleventh spot on the single chart. Of course, this was not the song that touched me. In fact, I was mildly annoyed by Misery. My favorite track from this album was Just Like Anyone.
Just Like Anyone is a touching song. Sure, it still featured the nasal voice of Pirner, but the song really does hold some meaning to people that never felt like they were a part of a group or a part of society in general. The darkly lit video actually featured Claire Danes (of that year's My So Called Life fame) as the isolated heroine. This is actually the eleventh track on the album and was released as a single after the success of Misery. The song is fun, and catchy yet it really hit a chord with me as a teen, the way I felt alienated. I felt as through Pirner & Co. were singing to me.
The most chart action of the album was seen by Misery. Of course, I should enjoy the song considering it Stephen King-esque title. Yet, there was something lacking with most of the song. It really didn't rock. It was surely in the same vein as the eariler and more successful Runaway Train. The only part of the song that appealed to me was the bass-driven chorus. It is worthy of a listen, and the lyrics really are catchy. If you've heard this song before, you've surely felt the urge to break into song and dance. You know the line...Frustrated incorporated....
Shut Down is also of note on the album. The music in this track is *real* rock and roll. I like the driving guitars and Pirner's angrier vocals. Definitely a must-listen track. Promises Broken could have been a classic. It's a soft, quiet, and melodic blues-infused alternative song. I like it, and to be quite honest the track is one of the most promising on the album. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I think I've heard it in other mediums...a movie maybe? Or television? I can't quite recall... Like I said, it's a good tune. Bittersweet somehow reminds me of Feed the Tree from Belly. It's pretty darned good anyway. String of Pearls seems to be somehow influenced by classic rockers Pink Floyd. That track is the sad, yet oddly crazy track of a car wreck and siamese twins. Don't ask, just listen. Nothing To Write Home About is a rock-fest. It's about as loud as Soul Asylum gets. Therefore, I like it.
I'd prefer not to listen much to the country To My Own Devices. Hopes Up is a bland song that reinforces to me the fact that Soul Asylum's talent and music really is hit-and-miss. Other less-than-interesting tracks are: Crawl, Caged Rat, Eyes of a Child, Tell Me When, and the infinitlely boring folky ballad I Did My Best.
Sure, Soul Asylum whines throughout each of their albums. I have to say that Pirner's relationship with Winona Ryder deserved more attention than his vocals. Yet, somehow songs like the aforementioned Just Like Anyone are totally worthy of a listen. But, the fact remains that they can't really make songs that sound different from one another. I'd suggest owning just one Soul Asylum album. Either Grave Dancers Union or Let Your Dim Light Shine...not both (unless you're a true fan, of course).
I give this album 3 1/2 stars. It's not great, just okay. Some of the tracks are good, others stink or are horribly repetitive. In Epinions-land, I will have to give the band 3 stars...I don't think the album deserves any more.
So, you want to find out more about this band known as Soul Asylum? Well, check out their official homepage at http://www.soulasylum.com . It's definitely a good place to start with a discography and expanded biography.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House
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Epinions.com ID:
lambchops
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 in Music |
 - Top 50 |
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Member: Shelly T.
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan
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