SOUL ASYLUM
The Silver Lining
Sony
· Minneapolis rockers return with best work since Grave Dancers Union.
Much has happened in the world of Soul Asylum in the eight years since the veteran Minnesota quartet released the disastrously mediocre Candy From a Stranger.
Singer Dave Pirner lost his New Orleans home in Hurricane Katrina and bassist Karl Mueller sadly lost his battle with throat cancer early last year.
It seems ironic the title of Soul Asylum’s new album should be so optimistic. Yet, it is a surprisingly upbeat offering, complete with the band’s signature singalong choruses and meaty hooks.
Although it’s the band’s best CD in years, it lacks the cohesiveness and full-on rock intensity of 1992’s Grave Dancers Union. Pirner’s lyrics are refreshingly honest and emotional, but he is also prone to bouts of corniness as demonstrated on the radio-friendly (and "Runaway Train"-esque) lead track, "Stand Up And Be Strong."
However, songs such as the politically charged "Lately" and memorable "Bus Named Desire" use Pirner’s sense of melody to great effect. Whether you love or loathe Soul Asylum, The Silver Lining is unlikely to change your opinion. But, it is a solid album from a band that deserves a commercial revival.
|
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.