Labels MCA Website semisonic.com | Associated acts Trip Shakespeare | |
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Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Years active 1995–2001, 2017-present Members Dan Wilson, John Munson, Jacob Slichter Genres Alternative rock, Post-grunge, Power pop Nominations Brit Award for International Breakthrough Act, Billboard Music Award for Modern Rock Track of the Year Albums Feeling Strangely Fine, All About Chemistry, Great Divide, One Night at First Avenue, Pleasure Profiles | ||
Rock band 4 closing time by semisonic expert full band
Semisonic is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995. The band had three members: Dan Wilson (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), John Munson (bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, guitar), and Jacob Slichter (drums, percussion, keyboards). They are best known for their 1998 single "Closing Time".
Contents
Closing time semisonic rock band 4 expert guitar
Formation and debut album
After 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.
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. In a 2008 performance at Harvard's Sanders Theatre, Wilson made it known 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. 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
Third album and future
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.
Wilson has spoken of 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 remains their last studio album. As of January 2017, according to the band's official website Semisonic is reuniting for a series of two shows in January (postponed to June due to injury) and that more plans will follow.
EPs
Studio albums
Live albums
Soundtracks and compilations
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. Since forming they have released an album, Stereo Night, and have been touring.
In 2004, 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 jazz trio, The New Standards, featuring Chan Poling of The Suburbs and Steve Roehm. This band plays new jazz renditions of "classic" songs.
On October 16, 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.
Songs
Closing TimeFeeling Strangely Fine · 1998
Secret SmileFeeling Strangely Fine · 1998
ChemistryAll About Chemistry · 2001