Word: asylums
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With Soul Asylum's new album, Candy from a Stranger, one cannot really comprehend why Soul Asylum faded so fast. Candy from a Stranger is not a bad album--in fact, it is quite good. After all, what is there not to like about Soul Asylum? Their lyrics are admirable, the music is interesting, and Pirner has a relatively unique voice. Yet, despite all the goodness of the new album, somehow Soul Asylum has not been able to distinguish itself from other one-hit wonder grunge-y bands; Pirner and the band have been unable to really make their mark...
...Soul Asylum is clearly not unable to produce songs with true emotions: Witness "I Will Still Be Laughing," one of the best songs on the album. "I Will Still Be Laughing" grips the listener with its powerful start and does not dissolve into whining or cliches, as do most of the songs on Candy from a Stranger. Dealing with the ups and downs of teenage life, "I Will Still Be Laughing" sings of bitter revenge, but does so in a realistic and interesting way, rather than rehashing the stereotype of the angry teenager who hates the world. The song portrays...
...adulthood, a voice telling the uncertain adolescent protagonist what to do, where to go, who to become. Yet that call--as we all know--will never come, as there comes a point in each person's life when he or she must make that difficult call, all alone. Soul Asylum has managed to capture the teenage sense of loneliness, fear and desperation in this mature, strong song. It is hard not to appreciate "I Will Still Be Laughing," as it appeals to almost everyone's sense of alienation as an adolescent. The lyrics are gripping, the music is excellent...
...Draggin the Lake," much more bitter than "I Will Still Be Laughing," is still worth-while. "Draggin the Lake" escapes the cookiecutter emotions found in "Close," "No Time for Waiting" and others. The emotions within "Draggin the Lake," are fueled perhaps by the public's cruel treatment of Soul Asylum after the hype over "Runaway Train" faded: "Sent on a mission to find out/just how much shit one man can take" is the jarring opening line of the song. Unfortunately, the song tumbles down the path towards over-clicheed lyrics after its stunning start. The music still manages...
...manage to stand out. Generally, the songs sound very similar and are each tinged with bitterness in their own way. Candy from a Stranger is recommended, but do not expect much more than the occasional show of true emotion. We will still have to wait and see if Soul Asylum can move past its one-hit status, and Candy from a Stranger is certainly a step in the right direction away from that stigma, without erasing...