Semisonic
{{short description|American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Semisonic
| image = Semisonic - First Avenue - 1-28-2023 - 010.jpg
| caption = Semisonic performing in 2023
| landscape = yes
| alt = Semisonic playing onstage
| alias = Pleasure (1993–1995)
| origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|pop rock|post-grunge|power pop}}
| years_active = 1993–2001, 2006, 2017–present
| label = MCA, Pleasuresonic
| associated_acts = * Trip Shakespeare
| website = {{URL|semisonic.com}}
| current_members = * John Munson
| past_members =
}}
Semisonic is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1995, consisting of Dan Wilson (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), John Munson (bass, keyboards, backing vocals, guitar), and Jacob Slichter (drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals). They are best known in the U.S. for their 1998 top-20 single "Closing Time".
History
=Formation and debut album=
After the breakup of Trip Shakespeare, Wilson and Munson joined up with drummer Slichter to form the band Pleasure in 1993.{{Cite web|title=Monday Night Live – Pleasure – 1993|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrZtjALMK1M|access-date=May 5, 2023|website=www.youtube.com}} By 1995, they had changed their name to Semisonic. An EP, Pleasure, was released that year on Boston indie label CherryDisc, and the studio full-length Great Divide in 1996 on MCA.
=Breakthrough and international success=
Semisonic's breakthrough came two years later in 1998 when their second album, Feeling Strangely Fine, reached the Top 50 chart on the strength of the hit single "Closing Time", their biggest hit in the United States. During a 2008 performance at Harvard's Sanders Theatre, Wilson said that it was originally written about the birth of his first child.
Their international career also blossomed when another song from the album, "Secret Smile", quickly became a UK radio favorite in the summer of 1999, eventually peaking at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|title=SEMISONIC {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5314/semisonic/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=www.officialcharts.com}}
=Third album and hiatus=
In early 2001, the band released its third album, All About Chemistry, The single "Chemistry" was a mainstay overseas; however the album did not fare as well in the United States. Another song, "Over My Head", was used in the 2001 teen flick Summer Catch, and Semisonic rode the wave touring various cities in and around the UK.
Wilson had spoken about doing more Semisonic music in the future but said, "The busy day-to-day life keeps pushing it further into the future." All About Chemistry would be their last studio release until reconvening for the You're Not Alone EP which they put out in 2020.
=2017–2019=
File:Semisonic - First Avenue - Minneapolis - Feeling Strangely Fine (25225878488).jpg
To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of their first album, Great Divide, the band reunited for a series of three shows in June 2017 – June 14 at a small club in St. Paul, and June 16–17 at First Avenue in Minneapolis. The band played Great Divide in its entirety.
In December 2017, the band played three more shows in the Twin Cities to commemorate the approaching 20th anniversary of their second album, Feeling Strangely Fine, performing the album in its entirety. In 2018, Feeling Strangely Fine was given a rerelease for the album's twentieth anniversary, including its first vinyl pressing. The anniversary edition included four songs not on the original album: "Long Way from Home", "I'm a Liar", "Beautiful Regret", and "Makin' a Plan".
In July 2019, Semisonic performed at Summerfest in Milwaukee and then at the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis. During their 2017–2019 shows, the band performed some new, previously unreleased songs, including "Basement Tapes", "All It Would Take", and "You're Not Alone"
=First Avenue=
File:Semisonic - First Avenue Star.jpg]]The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,{{cite web |url=http://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |title=The Stars |author= |website=First Avenue & 7th Street Entry |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418135117/https://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |url-status=dead }} recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.{{cite news |last=Bream |first=Jon |url=https://www.startribune.com/10-things-you-ll-learn-about-first-avenue-in-new-minnesota-history-center-show/509374312/ |title=10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 3, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 }} Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis", according to journalist Steve Marsh.{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Steve |url=http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/first-avenue-star-wall/ |title=First Avenue's Star Wall |work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 }} Wilson and Munson's previous group, Trip Shakespeare, also has a star making them among the few musicians with multiple stars on the mural.
=2020–present=
On June 26, 2020, Semisonic released the single "You're Not Alone", their first new material in 19 years,{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2089259/semisonic-youre-not-alone/music/|title=Semisonic – "You're Not Alone"|first=James|last=Rettig|publisher=Stereogum|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}} and later released the full You're Not Alone EP on September 18, 2020.
On January 27 and 28, 2023, the band played two shows at First Avenue to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the shows’ sponsor, Twin Cities public radio station The Current.{{cite web |title=Semisonic.com |url=https://semisonic.com/#appearances |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616155221/https://semisonic.com/#appearances |archive-date=2023-06-16 |language=en |date=21 January 2023 |url-status=live}}
Semisonic supported Barenaked Ladies from June 2, 2023 through June 26, 2023 on the Last Summer on Earth 2023 tour.{{Cite web |title=Barenaked Ladies: Last Summer on Earth 2023 |url=https://www.barenakedladies.com/splash/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=www.barenakedladies.com}}
In the summer of 2023, the band also began releasing singles from its upcoming album, Little Bit of Sun. On June 5, Semisonic released the singles “Little Bit of Sun” and “Grow Your Own.” {{Cite web |date=2023-06-05 |title=Semisonic Share New Songs "Little Bit Of Sun" & "Grow Your Own": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2226032/semisonic-little-bit-of-sun-grow-your-own/music/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} On August 1, another single, "The Rope,"{{Cite web |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=2023-08-01 |title=Re-Opening Time: Semisonic Plot First Album in Over 20 Years, 'Little Bit of Sun' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/semisonic-new-album-little-bit-of-sun-the-rope-1234798804/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} was released, along with a video{{Citation |title=Semisonic – The Rope |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jd9SLjkYsU |access-date=2023-11-22 |language=en}} for the song made by Phil Harder. On September 12, the band released “Out of the Dirt,”{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=Semisonic & Jason Isbell Share New Song "Out Of The Dirt": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2235862/semisonic-out-of-the-dirt-feat-jason-isbell/music/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} co-written by Lori McKenna and featuring Jason Isbell on guitar.
The full album of twelve songs, Little Bit of Sun, was released on November 3, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Valish |first=Frank |title=Little Bit of Sun |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/little_bit_of_sun_semisonic |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=www.undertheradarmag.com |language=en}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album details ! colspan="6"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications |
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:30px;"| US ! style="width:30px;"| AUS
! style="width:30px;"| CAN ! style="width:30px;"| IRL
! style="width:30px;"| NZL ! style="width:30px;"| UK |
| scope="row"| Great Divide
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — | |
|---|
| scope="row"| Feeling Strangely Fine
|
| 43 || 66 || 55 || 53 || 17 || 16 |
|
| scope="row"| All About Chemistry
|
| 103 || — || — || 28 || — || 13 | |
| scope="row"| Little Bit of Sun
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| colspan="9" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
=Live albums=
- One Night at First Avenue (2003)
=EPs=
- Pleasure EP (1995)
- You're Not Alone (2020)
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Year ! colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:30px;"| US ! style="width:30px;"| US ! style="width:30px;"| US ! style="width:30px;"| US ! style="width:30px;"| AUS ! style="width:30px;"| CAN
! style="width:30px;"| IRL ! style="width:30px;"| NLD ! style="width:30px;"| NZL ! style="width:30px;"| UK |
| scope="row" | "Down in Flames"
| rowspan="3" | 1996 | — || — || 43{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-05-17.pdf|title=Radio & Records|date=May 17, 1996|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=June 8, 2022}} || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="3" | Great Divide |
| scope="row" | "If I Run"
| — || 38{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-08-16.pdf|title=Radio & Records|date=August 16, 1996|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=June 8, 2022}} || 25{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-09-20.pdf |title=Radio & Records|date=September 20, 1996|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=June 8, 2022}} || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row" | "F.N.T."
| — || 35{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1997/RR-1997-01-10.pdf|title=Radio & Records|date=January 10, 1997|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=June 8, 2022}} || 30 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row" | "Closing Time"
| rowspan="2" | 1998 | 11 || 1 || 13 || 4 || 40 || 33 || 48 || 84 || 50 || 25 | | rowspan="3" | Feeling Strangely Fine |
| scope="row" | "Singing in My Sleep"
| — || 11 || 31 || — || 70 || — || — || — || — || 39 | |
| scope="row" | "Secret Smile"
| 1999 | — || 21 || — || 17 || — || 30 || 26 || — || — || 12 | |
| scope="row" | "Chemistry"
| rowspan = "2" | 2001 | — || 39 || — || 6 || — || — || 39 || 84 || 21 || 35 | | rowspan = "2" | All About Chemistry |
| scope= "row" | "Get a Grip"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 109 | |
| scope="row" | "You're Not Alone"
| 2020 | — || — || — || 14 || — || — || — || — || — || — | | You're Not Alone EP |
| scope="row" | "Little Bit of Sun"/"Grow Your Own"
| rowspan="3" | 2023 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="3" | Little Bit of Sun |
| scope="row" | "The Rope"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row" | "Out of the Dirt"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart, or were not released in this territory. |
=Soundtracks and compilations=
{{Unreferenced section|date= March 2016}}
- Semisonic performed "Sugar, Sugar" with Mary Lou Lord on the 1995 tribute album Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall for MCA Records.
- Semisonic contributed the title song for the 1999 Kevin Costner movie For Love of the Game.
- Multiple Semisonic songs were featured in episodes of the television sitcom Friends, with "Delicious" and "Closing Time" later being featured in the soundtrack albums Friends Again and Friends: The Ultimate Soundtrack respectively.
- "Over My Head", a bonus track on some editions of All About Chemistry, was used in the 2001 teen flick Summer Catch.
- "Closing Time" appeared in the 2011 movie Friends with Benefits.
- In the fall of 2001, Semisonic contributed their cover of the Wings song, "Jet", for the Paul McCartney tribute CD Listen to What the Man Said.
- Wilson with Bic Runga contributed "Good Morning Baby" to the American Pie soundtrack in 1999.
- "F.N.T." was featured in the 1996 movie The Long Kiss Goodnight and the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You.
- "Closing Time" was included in an episode of The Office. It was also featured in the season finale of The Real World: Seattle.
- "Closing Time" is referenced in the Weird Al Yankovic montage "Polka Party!" in his 1999 groundbreaking album Running With Scissors.
Other projects by members
Wilson took time out to do some solo projects and play tour dates around the Midwest in December. Munson joined Wilson's brother and former Trip Shakespeare frontman Matt Wilson to form a side project, The Flops, in 2001, though they were expected to make a final performance in early 2005. In 2009, John Munson and Matt Wilson reunited to form a new band The Twilight Hours. They have released two albums, Stereo Night (2009) and Black Beauty (2016), and have been touring.
In 2004, Slichter's book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star was published, detailing some of the experiences the group had while touring and attempting to get airplay on radio stations across the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=3847612 |title=Drummer's Book Takes Shine off Rock-Star Life |website=NPR.org |publisher=NPR |access-date=August 25, 2015}}
In late spring of 2005, John Munson began playing in a new jazz trio, The New Standards, featuring Chan Poling of The Suburbs and Steve Roehm. This band plays new jazz renditions of "classic" songs.
In October 2007, Rick Rubin's label American Recordings released Wilson's solo album, Free Life, featuring collaborations with numerous artists including Munson and Slichter. The song "Cry" was the album's single.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Sister project links|d=Q1572584|c=Category:Semisonic|q=no|n=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no|s=no}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{Allmusic}}
- {{Discogs artist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060412074015/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/semisonic/artist.jhtml MTV.com artists biography]
- {{MusicBrainz artist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140515043351/http://www.citypages.com/2004-06-23/arts/radio-killed-the-rock-roll-stars/ City Pages: Radio Killed the Rock & Roll Stars] – book excerpt
- [http://about-creativity.com/an_interview_with_dan_wilson_part_1/ An Interview with Dan Wilson, Part 1 (on creativity and the creative process)]
{{Semisonic|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Alternative rock groups from Minnesota
Category:American post-grunge musical groups
Category:Musical trios from Minnesota
Category:Musical groups established in 1995
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2006
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2006
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2017
Category:1995 establishments in Minnesota