lambchops's Full Review: Pleasure [EP] by Semisonic
Everybody’s got to start somewhere, and mellow rockers Semisonic began their move toward stardom in 1995 with their debut EP titled Pleasure.
In more recent years the Minneapolis-based trio has racked up their fair share of hits. Most memorable (at least because of radio overplay) is signature night ender Closing Time from their biggest breakthrough album Feeling Strangely Fine. But that song was fortunately not all they had to offer to the world. Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter recorded a string of incredible songs…most of which never did anything but brush with mainstream media (Secret Smile, Singing in My Sleep, Chemistry and If I Run to name a few), but any one of which could have easily been a hit.
Today, with three relatively well received albums to their name, Semisonic sits at the cusp of superstardom. But, if they are smart they’ll let their star stay in its current position. They are a rare kind of American pop-rock…the kind that not only appeals to fans of the lighter side of music, but also fans of other subsets of the genre like Brit-pop and rock n’ roll. Semisonic assembles music that warms the heart and soul. They don’t take anything too seriously, but at the same time the band doesn’t take anything for granted. Pleasure (1995) was their debut EP and three albums thus far have followed including 1996’s Great Divide, 1998’s Feeling Strangely Fine and most recently 2001’s All About Chemistry. Any one of those three full-length efforts is worth checking out.
Returning to the early roots of their success (not counting the earliest which is of course Munson and Wilson’s work with Trip Shakespeare), Semisonic wasn’t quite ready for primetime with Pleasure. They did show a great deal of promise, but whether or not the band would be able to follow-up with a decent album was anybody’s guess. Released by indie label CherryDisc in 1995, Pleasure is actually a lengthy EP at eight songs and some change toward the end. And even as mediocre as the effort is in retrospect, it helped to earn the band a major label deal with MCA.
So what exactly did MCA see in Semisonic? Even if their music wasn’t yet perfected and they didn’t have much financial backing, the trio still somehow managed to piece together a work that clued listeners into the kind of band they would one soon become. A band that is without seemingly much trouble able to blend emotion, good lyrics, and light yet catchy melodies together in song that are appealing on many levels. Pleasure certainly doesn’t compare to the later works, but it is a worthwhile purchase for previous fans of Semisonic.
As mentioned, there are an impressive eight tracks on the EP. Clocking in at nearly a half hour, it is almost long enough to qualify as a full-length effort. But with that said, Semisonic doesn’t seem to have a consistent vision of the intent of their music and as such it’s undoubtedly best that it is NOT their official debut. As with most bands and their early work, Semisonic seems to stand upon unsure legs. Some of what they recorded would have fit nicely on to later efforts, but the majority of songs are pretty pale in comparison.
Of the eight tracks, but a few are any good. The majority of songs in fact are mediocre while a few are unbelievably bad. The ones that are good would fit nicely along side any of the work from the band. None is a classic, but The Prize, Star, and The Gift are certainly impressive songs for a debuting band. Fortunately, the EP kicks off with one of the best songs of the offering. Even though the production is rather shoddy and the band’s guitars have Creed-like tendencies, the track still shimmers. My only real complaint is the unrestrained breakdown full of feedback and strange noise. The melody, vocals, and pace otherwise are perfect.
Star and The Gift also resonate nicely. The former is darker and more thoughtful than the band generally tends to be. With this said, the song is refreshing. Their emotions shine through brilliantly, though the song (as with the disc as a whole) could have been better with a bit more attention to detail. The Gift on the other hand is an acoustic masterpiece. Whereas the other tracks come up short because a distinct lack of monies, the light and genuinely wonderful ballad shines above the rest as the truest track of the album. Semisonic had talent in 1995, and The Gift proved that beyond a doubt. It is, by the way, the ideal way to end any album…or EP for that matter.
But as said there are some bad tracks. Heck, even some of the better one had issues. But these are embarrassingly horrible. In The Veins combines a bad 80’s electric guitar with a repetitive melody. Not just that…the guitars and drums are so loud and thick that lead singer Wilson can be only barely heard. Also troublesome is that the song also lacks any direction. Wishing Well is definitely no better. It is clear that the band is trying for a modern Beatles feel, but in the end it just comes off as both off kilter and off key.
The rest of what’s here is merely fine and not in the least bit memorable. Semisonic, as I’ve maintained in the past, harnesses a great deal of emotion and intelligence in their songs on the whole. Since Pleasure they’ve proven this without any doubt. If looking to examine the band further, look elsewhere. Pleasure isn’t a good place to start, rather it’s an important place to return to once you’ve already gotten to know the band.
Rating: 3/5
Track Listing:
1. The Prize
2. Brand New Baby
3. In the Veins
4. Wishing Well
5. Star
6. Sculpture Garden
7. Drum Lesson (Interlude)
8. The Gift
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