i quite like all the semisonic songs i've heard (c/d, s/d)

"down in flames" was a pretty good OG semisonic jam. locals only.

one of the east end pirate stations used to have a jingle that went to the tune of 'secret smile'

"nobody knows it, but we've got a ladies' night..."

all of that stuff sux azz compared to their debut alb, "the great divide."
-- asl, Friday, July 16, 2004 4:34 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Link

^^^^^^^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGytDsqkQY8

hi. this is one of the best songs of all time. now you know

i totally loved the great divide, matt otm down in flames is a jam

FACT: i sold merch for them at a first ave show in high school ~locals only~

:D

"secret smile" isn't that good. are all their other songs this much worse than closing time?

They're not the kind of band I could ever see inspiring serious devotion, but I always thought California was a great song, especially when the distortion kicks in. The drummer's book was pretty good too. I think the fact that he's 100% ordinary in every way is part of its charm. I don't think anyone's gonna confuse it with the Mingus autobiography.

man, sorry, but this isn't doing it for me. ("california")

and i am, obviously, a "closing time" fan

picked up a copy of All About Chemistry on a whim at a thrift store and y'know what it's got some jams!

did you know it has a Carole King co-write/duet? because it does.

hope weasel diesel turned out all right

I had no idea the Semisonic guy went on to co-write "Not Ready to Make Nice," "Someone Like You" and a million other things, so I guess we know *he* turned out all right, at least

He co-wrote "treacherous" with Taylor and I know we hate her now but that's just an amazing jam

I am shocked at how well I recall basically every element of "Secret Smile" after all these years. I guess dude earned the big bucks after all.

“i wish” is my fav semisonic song. all about chemistry is a great record

also i revisited feeling strangely fine last month and it’s amazing how many good power pop songs are on that record

I want to do a whole thread about journeymen 90s songwriters (I don't know anything about the topic but I assume Wilson is the tip of the iceberg)

dan wilson
greg kurstin
there are a few others all of them named greg but i can’t remember atm

Rick Nowels kinda fits though he never had the "public career" element AFAICT

Stuff like "Act Naturally" slots so effortlessly into those latter-day Jimmy Eat World records that I wonder if some folks didn't miss out on some major payola

I don't care much for the band but, on a recommendation from a friend I read the book written by the drummer about their time together and the record company machinations, he's an engaging writer and it's a great read.

It's called 'So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star: How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful Of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer's Life'

Multiple xp the guy from Cardigans who wrote all those amazing Bieber/Grande singles

Butch Walker is another one of those guys (extensive credits w/Katy, Avril, Taylor, Pink, and Carly Rae amongst others)

"If I Run" is perpetually overlooked, that was a cool alt-rock radio jam imo.

The guy from Semisonic attended Harvard FWIW.
Best musicians to attend Harvard anyone?

Jerry Harrison for starters

Claudia Gonson

Dan Wilson will always be the other not as brilliant guy in Trip Shakespeare to me

Now that was a band

re journeymen.
never expected this given how hated louis xiv were.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Hill_(singer)

oh, also, Jon Brion.

Gregg Alexander from New Radicals

Dr. Luke, although his 'public career' was playing guitar in SNL house band.

are we listing people with songwriting/producer careers or people who went to harvard

and why not: there's a new Semisonic EP out soon, their first new music in 19 years

https://www.stereogum.com/2089259/semisonic-youre-not-alone/music/