Soul Asylum
The Silver Lining
(Sony/Legacy)
First Appeared in The Music Box, August 2006, Volume 13, #8
Written by Tracy M. Rogers
Nearly 23 years into its career — and eight years after the release of its
last studio effort Candy from a Stranger — Soul Asylum has returned to
the ranks of active musicians with the cautiously optimistic, hard rockin’
The Silver Lining. Throughout the effort, lead singer and songwriter Dave
Pirner attempts to recapture the magic of 1992’s Grave Dancer’s Union,
and in some ways, he has succeeded. The opening Stand Up and Be Strong is
a positive anthem, while Lately is a rollicking soldier’s tale. The
psuedo-country of Crazy Mixed Up World and the post-punk All is Well
are infectious enough, even if they are a bit lyrically drab. Dave Murphy cranks
up the feedback on the catchy pop-rocker Buss Named Desire, while the
influence of Southern blues permeates the slower Whatcha Need. On the
downside, Standing Water, Success Is Not So Sweet, and The
Great Exaggerator strike a mellower tone that seems out of place on The
Silver Lining. The whispered Oxygen, the slowly simmering Good for
You, and power-driving Slowly Rising/Fearless Leader bring the
proceedings to a close. Overall, Pirner’s vocals are rough-edged, and he
frequently sounds as if he’s losing his voice. In the end, The Silver Lining
is a slight miss for Soul Asylum in that it proves to be too scattered musically
and too clichéd lyrically to hold its own
among the better outings in the group’s catalogue. 
Of Further Interest...
Modern Skirts - Catalogue of Generous Men
Various Artists - Open Season: Featuring the Songs of Paul Westerberg
The Silver Lining is available from Barnes & Noble.
To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2006 The Music Box