The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson - Idolator Comments

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

genevieveyorke — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:03:17 EST

dude. all about chemistry was totally their worst album. def. give a listen to the great divide or anything on feeling strangely fine except closing time.... and if you REALLY want to dig, check out trip shakespeare, dan's pre-semisonic band. adorably idiosyncratic.

i'll end the fangirl schtick now.

genevieveyorke

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

DeeJayQueue — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:55:21 EST

Dan Wilson is a pretty good producer and songwriter, helping out the likes of Mike Doughty produce their albums in his spare time in his home studio in Minn. That's pretty much where he's been all this time.

DeeJayQueue

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:36:28 EST

I loved their pre-"Closing Time" song "Across the Great Divide", as well as their "FNT" song (which you've heard if you've seen "10 Things I Hate About You").

I lived in Minneapolis when "Chemistry" came out, and it got plenty of airplay up there.

Dan Wilson also appears in the "Shut Up and Sing" film . . .

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

Chris Molanphy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:51:45 EST

Good idea to post this. I myself (a) was stunned to see Wilson up there with the Chicks last night (recognized him because I saw Semisonic open for Sheryl Crow once); and (b) was kinda wondering where he'd been all these years.

Re: coolfer's smart comment above - the fate of Semisonic will seem less surprising if you read the fun little book by Semisonic's drummer, Jacob Slichter: So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star. I plowed through it a couple of years ago, and it's a succinct, not-too-juicy tell-all about the fucked-up way rock bands were treated by the business in the late '90s after the alt-boom ended. You could kill a weekend reading this book and then following up with a screening of the movie DIG! to get a sense of How It All Went Wrong.

Chris Molanphy

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

On the Spot — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:45:21 EST

The drummer wrote a book about the rise and fall (slight incline and gentle decline?) of Semisonic.

On the Spot

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

dollywould — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:30:54 EST

Their first full-length album, Great Divide, was the soundtrack to my sophomore year of college. "Down in Flames" is an amazing song. Good to see Dan still getting work (and props). Thanks for posting this!

dollywould

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

coolfer — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:22:48 EST

radio gave it a shot, the label worked it for a brief time, the press was all over the band at the time of release, but the songs just didn't go anywhere with listeners. the label felt it had more important things to do than pour money into an album that didn't have many prospects at radio. it wasn't a band that broke through touring or critical adoration. it was a radio band. when radio dried up, it was time to move on. that's how it is sometimes. listeners like one song immensely ("closing time" in this case) and don't have a strong enough bond with the band to care a whole lot for what comes after it. (that's blue october's cue to cash it in fast.) it's the curse of the hit single.

coolfer

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

Mark Graham — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:20:58 EST

If memory serves, there was a really nice track on that record that they co-wrote w/Carole King. Nice reset.

Mark Graham

The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Semisonic's "Chemistry" Lesson

cassidy2099 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:59:15 EST

Better than Feeling Strangely Fine? I don't think so. That "Sunshine and Chocolate" track makes me queasy. "Chemistry" however is one of their best songs. And hey, wasn't Wilson supposed to have a Rick Rubin produced solo album come out a few years ago?

cassidy2099