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Semisonic is an alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995. The band consists of three members: Dan Wilson (lead vocals, guitar), John Munson (bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboard), and Jacob Slichter (drums, percussion, keyboard). They are perhaps best known for their 1998 hit single "Closing Time".
Early yearsIn 1992 while Dan Wilson and John Muson were still in the band Trip Shakespeare they were always encouraging Jacob to write songs with them. One day one of their friends asked the 3 to perform songs at her party. They accepted and the three learned to play a bunch of covers then performed at a bar called "The 400 Bar". That weekend the three wrote and recorded demos of songs they wrote and Dan named their band Pleasure. Around 1993-1994 the band had released demo tapes but had to change their band name due to an 80s band called Pleasure. They changed their name to Semisonic and released their first album under CherryDisc.
HistoryAfter the breakup of Trip Shakespeare, Dan Wilson and John Munson joined up with drummer Jacob Slichter to form Semisonic in 1995. An EP, Pleasure, was released that year on Boston indie label CherryDisc, and the studio full-length Great Divide in 1996 on MCA.
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.
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 #13 on the UK Singles Chart.
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 of various tours in and around the UK. 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.
Future Dan Wilson has spoken of doing more Semisonic music in the future with John and Jake but said "The busy day-to-day life keeps pushing it further into the future." All three would like to make more Semisonic music but just don't have the time. All About Chemistry remains their last studio album to date.
DiscographyStudio albums - 1993: Pleasure (demo)
- 1995: Pleasure EP (EP)
- 1996: Great Divide
- 1998: Feeling Strangely Fine
- 2001: All About Chemistry
Live albums- 2003: One Night at First Avenue
Singles
Collaborations in Soundtracks & Compilations- 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.
- They contributed a previously unreleased song, "For The Love Of The Game," to the 1999 Kevin Costner movie For Love Of The Game.
- Dan Wilson with Bic Runga contributed "Good Morning Baby" to the American Pie soundtrack in 1999.
- "Over My Head" was used in the 2001 movie Summer Catch.
Album Songs in Other MediaGreat Divide- The song "F.N.T." was used in the 1996 movie The Long Kiss Goodnight.
- "F.N.T." was also used in the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate about You.
- "Delicious" was used in the end of the Friends episode "The One with Joey's Fridge", and appeared on Friends Again - Original TV Soundtrack in 1999.
Feeling Strangely Fine- "Closing Time" was featured on the 1998 charitable album Live In The X Lounge.
- In 1998, "Closing Time" was heard right before the credits in the final episode of Melrose Place.
- The intro to "Closing Time" is briefly heard in the Friends episode "The One with Rachel's Date"
- "Closing Time" was used in an episode of The Simpsons entitled "That 90's Show".
- "Closing Time" was used in the 1999 Warren Miller film Freeriders.
- "Closing Time" was the final song in the polka medley "Polka Power!" on "Weird Al" Yankovic's 1999 album Running with Scissors.
- "Closing Time" and "Singing in My Sleep" appeared on the MTV cartoon series Daria.
- "Made to Last" was used in a commercial for Volkswagen.
- "Made to Last" was used in an episode of the WB teen drama Roswell but not included on the show's soundtrack.
- "Never You Mind" appeared on the Never Been Kissed - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack in 1999.
- "Secret Smile" appeared on th ''Dawson's Creek episode "Full Moon Rising".
- "Secret Smile" again appeared on Charmed episode "Dead Man Dating".
- "Secret Smile" was used in a commercial for the Sony Cyber-shot range of digital cameras in 2007.
All About Chemistry- "Chemistry" appeared on the 40 Days and 40 Nights soundtrack in 2002.
Other projects by membersDan Wilson took time out to do some solo projects and play tour dates around the Midwest in December. Munson joined up with 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 2004, Jacob Slichter's book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star (ISBN 0-7679-1470-8) was published, detailing some of the experiences the group had while touring and attempting to get airplay on radio stations across the US.
In late spring of 2005, John Munson began playing in a new trio, "The New Standards" featuring Chan Poling of The Suburbs and Steve Roehm.
On October 16, 2007 Rick Rubin's label American Recordings released Dan Wilson's solo album, Free Life, featuring collaborations with numerous artists including John Munson and Jacob Slichter. The song "Cry" was the album's single.
FutureThe three band members have talked about a new Semisonic album releasing within the next two years. A new album is expected to be recorded by 2011.
Copyright Citations
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