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ALL ABOUT CHEMISTRY
Semisonic
(MCA-Universal)
This followup to Semisonic's 1998 pop-rock breakthrough, Feeling Strangely Fine, finds leader Dan Wilson trading in his guitar for a piano for the most part.
The end result is similarly elegant and eloquent, with songs like the ones Wilson penned last time -- remember Closing Time and Secret Smile? -- but with a tad more subtext and hooks.
The first single, Chemistry, for example, is a catchy little song about sex that's bound to get tons of radio play, while Get A Grip espouses the joys of, you guessed it, masturbation.
"Get a grip on yourself, take my advice, I got a grip on myself and it feels nice," sings Wilson in his Todd Rundgren-like falsetto.
Other standouts are the pretty piano ballad, Act Naturally, the strings-swelling She's Got My Number and One True Love -- co-written and performed with Carole King. Poppier still are Bed, Follow and Sunshine & Chocolate (sounds good to me).
The Minneapolis-based trio -- rounded out by bassist John Munson and drummer Jacob Slichter -- play Lee's Palace on April 2. They will be accompanied by touring keyboardist Chris Joyner of Soul Asylum.
Track Listing
1. Chemistry
2. Bed
3. Act Naturally
4. She's Got My Number
5. Follow
6. Sunshine and Chocolate
7. Who's Stopping You?
8. I Wish
9. One True Love
10. Get A Grip
11. Surprise
12. El Matador