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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
College rock's been done by everyone from literate romantics to heads-down bar bands to power-pop hooksmiths... but seldom by bands who can be all three--and score hit singles to boot. And in Semisonic's native Minneapolis, where the career of shambolic nearly-men The Replacements looms over the music scene like the dead (drunk) hand of history, the success part of the equation is even less likely. Against the odds, then, this trio's gleamingly produced second album not only hit the charts in the States, where wryly-observed anthem "Closing Time" was tailor-made for festival audiences, but in the UK, where the purring, Hall & Oates-ish "Secret Smile" seduced radio listeners who'd barely heard of musical kindred spirits The Posies and Fountains Of Wayne.
Beyond the singles, though, even album tracks here get the balance of bar-band crunch and pop kid swoon just right. Stuffed with Todd Rundgren/Big Star-style hooks and harmonies, Feeling Strangely Fine has a Wilco-like grasp of the joys of pop songs about pop in the compilation-cassette love story of "Singing In My Sleep" and the infectious self-deprecation of "This Will Be My Year". In a rare case of Minnesota guys finishing first, the latter's prediction even came true. --Jennifer Nine
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Chances are that if you were alive and cognisant in 1998 you will have heard the single "Closing Time" and quite probably "Secret Smile" as well. If you were a true discerning listener of taste you may well have been aware of 1996 critically acclaimed but totally unheard album "Great Divide". So on the basis of this you dutifully went out and bought "Feeling Strangely Fine", came home played it once, casually admired the music within, and then placed it in your collection to gather dust.
You fool.
With their debut E.P. "Pleasure" Semisonic revealed to the world a thoughtful, talented band with the energy and drive to match any expectations. In "Great Divide" they found their direction and added maturity to the masterful but sometimes-chaotic signature sound developed in their previous E.P. With 1998s "Feeling Strangely Fine" they truly hit their stride.
I recently tried to compile a list of the top 50 songs of all time. Had I not imposed a one-song limit on each band the top 12 songs would all have been from this album. Each track is an undoubted masterpiece - from the quirky cheerfulness of songs such as "Never You Mind" and "Completely Pleased" to the more melancholy, acoustic numbers such as "Gone To The Movies" and the inspiring vocal performance of bassist John Munson on "She Spreads her Wings". A must-have for all music lovers.
You fool.
With their debut E.P. "Pleasure" Semisonic revealed to the world a thoughtful, talented band with the energy and drive to match any expectations. In "Great Divide" they found their direction and added maturity to the masterful but sometimes-chaotic signature sound developed in their previous E.P. With 1998s "Feeling Strangely Fine" they truly hit their stride.
I recently tried to compile a list of the top 50 songs of all time. Had I not imposed a one-song limit on each band the top 12 songs would all have been from this album. Each track is an undoubted masterpiece - from the quirky cheerfulness of songs such as "Never You Mind" and "Completely Pleased" to the more melancholy, acoustic numbers such as "Gone To The Movies" and the inspiring vocal performance of bassist John Munson on "She Spreads her Wings". A must-have for all music lovers.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This excellent album has so much in it that makes it stand out from others of its genre. Less outspoken and softer than louder rock, less reliant on electronica than many of its counterparts, Dan Wilson and co have created a very special and memorable album.
The touching tracks 'Closing Time' and 'Secret Smile' really stand out (for me 'Secret Smile' is the tune of 90s nostalgia): the gentle vocals and guitar complete the wonderful tunes and sincere lyrics. There is a beautiful naivety and theme of positivity in tracks such as 'Singing in my Sleep' and 'She Spreads Her Wings', which do something to relieve the emotion from more melancholy tracks such as 'Gone to the Movies' and create an album which overall is full of life and hope.
My one criticism would be that some of the songs begin to be somewhat samey and less distinctive, particularly towards the end of the album (This Will Be My Year and Completely Pleased are, in my opinion, underachivers). Nevertheless, these tracks are very much the exception and this album is overall emotive, original and well worth the purchase.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this song after hearing the song 'closing time' in a pub. However the rest does not disappoint, the tunes are catchy, singalongable and consistantly well written.
The best songs in my opinion are: closing time, singing in my sleep, secret smile and DND.
This album quickly became one of my favourites and most played.
The best songs in my opinion are: closing time, singing in my sleep, secret smile and DND.
This album quickly became one of my favourites and most played.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sounds Incredibly Fine!
I absolutely LOVE this album. I have a very large collection of music, which is ever expanding, and Feeling Strangely Fine is one of my "trustiest" and favourite albums of them... Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Kittycat63
Great, slightly american
I'd actually completely forgotten about this band until I heard 'Closing Time' on The Simpsons. A little too American, but all good songs. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2008 by Mr. T. L. Gove
This is music...
In my opinion, this is the best album i have ever heard. (To put this into perspective, i usually only enjoy heavy rock, but this is an exception). Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2006 by Mr. Philip Jones
Good album
The album has a distinct sound and it is worth listening to if you haven’t. Out of all of their Semisonic albums I really think this is the best one. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2006 by Jonathan M. Kingston
good and cathchy
this is a very catchy album with many excellent, uplifting songs on it. A good buy
Published on 11 Dec 2003
Pick me up music
I once associated Semisonic with a whole raft of British pop music. That was before I bought this album, which is now one of the stars of my collection. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2002 by anon
Am I missing something?
Around the time this album was released I heard Semisonic on the radio alot. I bought the album on the strength of Closing Time and in particular Secret Smile. Read more
Published on 23 May 2002
EXCELLENT album
After hearing Closing Time and Semisonic on the radio i decided to give the album a go and months later it is still regularly played on my stereo. Read more
Published on 18 April 2002
Get this album! It's soooooo good!!!!!!!
Closing Time, the song that broke Semisonic in to the American music industry, is undoubtedly the anthem of the album. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2001
Inspirational!
What a great collection of songs. There isn't one that is disappointing. They have fantastic lyrics, and superb tunes. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2001 by tigrepeligrosa@hotmail.com
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