Feeling Strangely Summarised

So, today Chris and I were talking about music on our walk. This is not a rare occurrence, but we don't often talk for too long about it (I think this is because our music tastes are not that similar). Chris told me that he wanted to know why I like these bands and why I dislike bands that he likes such as Arcade Fire. Last week at my friend Gareth's birthday party, Gareth told me that he didn't know why I liked the music that I like (D'espairsRay specifically).

So, the purpose of the digression above was to contextualise this blog entry, and introduce why I am writing it in the first place. I love listening to music and talking about it, but this is a rare occasion unless I'm on the internet talking to my pals across the world on Last.fm. I have been meaning to write blog entires on my favourite bands / albums before, but have been put off mostly by the thought of translating why I like the music into words, or an explanation why. I warn you, though, this might not be much of a review but more of a personal account!

As we all know, Semisonic is my favourite band. This is clear to me. I would even go as far as saying this is purely due to the existence of Feeling Strangely Fine (1998). I give all those songs 5 stars. I know it sounds a little cheesy quantifying how much you like something by giving it a star rating, but I think it is important at the same time. It gives you a nice gauge of how much you are into a track. The other three albums (including Pleasure EP) are very good, but they don't stand up to Feeling Strangely Fine for me.

Before I attempt to detail why, I will just remind you that I am a very picky listener. More than you think. I get bored very easily, which is why I don't listen to dance and pop - nah I'm kidding - It's why I don't listen to 'slow' songs, often acoustic guitars, and the vast majority of Indie music - Indie music in terms of the musical style not lyrical, if you know what I mean (although I don't much like the lyrics usually either). I don't mean to generalise but to be honest, this is usually the case. I like my music to be upbeat and I like the riffs to change frequently to hold my interest. Again, as I have mentioned before, I value melody over lyrical content in a song. Sometimes I go for a while listening to a song before I even know the lyrics and/or understand them. Some people don't understand this, but whatever. I do value lyrics.

One last thing - some of you might be thinking (especially if you know me from Last.fm or have seen my charts there) 'he listens to so much meldodeath and J-rock/VK, but Semisonic is his favourite band?'. Yes. They are. And, there is one solid reason why this is - because I can listen to Feeling Strangely Fine over and over and I don't get bored. As I said, I am picky, but I can also have a short attention span. And when I love some music, i'll listen it to a load then get a little sick of it.

Ok, so onto Semisonic. Here is the track list for Feeling Strangely Fine (1998):

1 Closing Time 4:34

2 Singing In My Sleep 4:30

3 Made To Last 5:02

4 Never You Mind 4:24

5 Secret Smile 4:29

6 DND 4:11

7 Completely Pleased 3:17 

8 This Will Be My Year 4:31

9 All Worked Out 2:51

10 California 5:26

11 She Spreads Her Wings 3:06

12 Gone To The Movies 3:52

So, a little trivia. Dan Wilson was in a band called Trip Shakespeare in the early 90's, which was actually his brother's (Matt Wilson) band. John Munson who went on to be part of Semisonic was also in Trip Shakespeare (cool band!). So, Dan and John teamed up with Jacob Slitcher to form Semisonic in 1995.

Now, I have a few theories as to why I like them so much - I will explain in detail. I got into them through dad. He bought Feeling Strangely Fine back from the US after he heard them on the radio (the radio is actually good in the US!), and he played it quite a lot. I remember liking them but not in a big way. I would say, in the last 4/5 years I have come to really love this album to the extent I do now. This sort of helps one of my theories that if you listen to some music a lot (as long as you are not too opposed to it in the first place of course), then you may eventually come to like it a lot, perhaps mostly from familiarity. Sort of contradicts my 'listening to tracks too much makes me sick of them' theory, but I don't care. I listened to tracks repeatedly on game soundtracks such as Ordinary by The Buzzhorn (NFS: Hot Pursuit 2) and Broken Promises by Element Eighty, (NFS: Underground 2) and I came to love those songs so much, and still do rather a lot. I know one actually that Chris also likes and thats Handful of Redemption by boysetsfire (1080 Avalanche), so that further backs my theory there :) My second theory as to why Feeling Strangely Fine is my favourite album, is that it satisfies me musically by fulfilling my love of ever-changing, interesting riffs (that come from Dan Wilson). This sort of ties in with my theory that I love anything and everything that Dan Wilson writes, like he is my music god, my musical twin or something. I don't have an explanation for this.. sorry Chris! My third theory is that I love Dan's lyrics. I will say why when I go through the songs. So, these theories may seem weak, but they are just a basis which I will expand on as I go through the songs individually below.

Closing Time, of course, the first track on the album. I must clear this up - I say this to everyone - this song is not about a bar at closing time! It is about childbirth. I am pretty sure it is based on Dan's personal experiences. Now I have cleared this up for you, listen to the song again :) It makes even more sense. Believe it or not, this is my least favourite song on the album. I still love it to pieces, but I just wanted to put it out there. I think this is such a nice sounding song. The piano is a nice touch at the start. This song, like many on the album, builds up progressively a little until the chorus kicks in and so does the guitar. As usual, Dan's lyrics are really nice, especially when you know what he is talking about. I think Dan has a gift in songwriting - both musically and lyrically, just listening to how this song flows. I like the concept of this song.

Singing In My Sleep.. I usually mark this as my favourite song of all time, not just the album. I love the build up in this song, and the repeating riff at the start, and the riff all the way through it stays amazing. This is probably the most upbeat song on the album. I know that is the main reason I like it so much. Dan excelled himself with the lyrics on this song as well - they are so singable and quotable! One of my favourite lines is: 'In the city the Lion sleeps, pray to Sony my soul to keep'. The song is catchy and likable, and leaves you quite happy. The music video is also amazing!

Made to Last is a great song. Again, quite progressive. I always think it sounds nice right after the upbeat sound of Singing In My Sleep. The lyrics I particularly like right at the start of this song. I don't have much else to say about this song. I do think the sense of nostalgia is particularly strong with the this song, probably because it's straight after Singing In My Sleep!

Never You Mind is a fun song. It was co-written by Dan and Jacob. Another great example of Dan's talent both with lyrics - 'Shakin my mind like an Etch-a-sketch erasing'! But also with the music, the piano sounds catchy. I can almost imagine Dan writing this song.

Secret Smile is a nice, sentimental song. It has a good feel to it. Maybe it is just after seeing the video, but it really compliments the lyrics and helps you get into the song. I always think the song is pretty melancholy. I'm not sure it is supposed to be. Along with Closing Time, this is a famous Semisonic song. That isn't the reason It's another one of my lesser favourite songs on the album, though. I think I just love the others so much.

Just listening to DND now, I love the start, the acoustic riff, and Dan's voice. Then the drums step in, then the bass a little later. I enjoy progression. The flow of this song is beautiful. Then Violin later still.. Meanwhile, Dan's lyrics are so cleverly put together - so 'real' but sort of simple in a good way, all at the same time.

Now Completely Pleased. I often tell myself this is my favourite on the album, but I say that about a few of them depending on my mood I guess. I love this song so much! When I was young I never knew what it was about, but I never put much thought into it anyway. I love the 4 strums at the beginning, and riff again of course. I also love the drums then straight after the guitar just before the chorus as they pick up a faster pace. Dan's lyrics on this track are so good! It's such a great song, I always develop a vivid imagination listening to it. I particularly like: 'I want to see you hazy, dazed and confused. I want to see you come, come, completely used'. The 'come come' part being clever in itself of course. Already you can see why Semisonic  is so high in my list - I love the music and the lyrics! I think it's the chorus with the awesome guitar coupled with the lyrics that get me in this song.

This Will Be My Year is definitely in my top 3 tracks on the album, alongside Singing In My Sleep and Completely Pleased. Interestingly, it was composed by Jacob Slitcher (bassist). I really like the sound of the.. whatever it is buzzing and the guitar riffs. I like the lyrics a lot on this one too, they are quite funny and clever. My favourite line has to be 'One wheel in the ditch another spinning in the air, put your pedal down to the floorboard, but your not getting anywhere' - its a nice metaphor. Despite the lyrics being a little depressing, I love the upbeatness of the song, and the way it contradicts the depressive tone!

I love All Worked Out because the lyrics are so blatant, real, simple, honest etc. about life and relationships and it just puts it out there 'She's got it all worked out'. But I like 'And it's strange, but your feeling fine' even more. The idea that this guy has accepted it and is completely comfortable with it. It is almost comic in a way, and It's such a lovely, emotional song. It makes you feel secure and happy. Who wouldn't want to be in a relationship like this?

California is an interesting song. It's my favourite 'slow song' ever! It sounds so cool. Again, predictably, I love the lyrics. Apparently the 'Twelve little pieces of me' are twelve songs he wrote (presumably all on this album). And this song is probably a sort of personal journey through them. I heard this on Dan's new live album Live at the Pantages, along with the fact that he regretted all the money he made from the album it wasn't the intention!

She Spreads Her Wings is the first of two really nice slow songs on the album. I'm not sure about the music, but I think the lyrics were written by John Munson (drummer). The song has a very nice, calming sound.

Gone to the Movies has a really nice acoustic sound. I really, really love the visuals that the lyrics make my mind conjure up. The violins are a nice touch again. Even though this song is a little depressing it makes me happy for some reason! 

To Conclude...

Ok, well, I have hopefully answered why I like Semisonic, or at least Feeling Strangely Fine. I think the recurring reasons are the sort of progressive alternative sound, the riffs, the instrumentation - Dan seems to have an ear for what instruments will sound great at what point. Of course Dan's lyrics as well. Also, of course, the nostalgia that is attached to this record for me is very strong, just like the album itself. It has that distinctive Dan Wilson sound plastered all over it; the love, care and attention that he puts into all his songs. It has stood the test of time until now, and has surpassed all of my other 'nostalgic' bands. So, thank you Dan, Jacob and John for this awesome album.