Semisonic

Semisonic
A basement concert on July 26, 2006, from left to right: Munson, Wilson, and Slichter
Background information
Origin	Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Genres	Alternative rock, post-grunge, power pop
Years active	1995–2001 (hiatus)
Labels	MCA Records
Associated acts	Trip Shakespeare
Website	semisonic.com
Members	John Munson Jacob Slichter Dan Wilson

Semisonic was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995. The band had 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 single "Closing Time".

Career

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.

Discography

EPs

• Pleasure (demo) (1993)
• Pleasure EP (1995, EP)

Studio albums

• Great Divide (1996)
• Feeling Strangely Fine (1998)
• All About Chemistry (2001)

Live albums

• One Night at First Avenue (2003)

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions								Certifications	Album
		US	US Alt	US Main	CAN	CAN Alt	IRL	NZL	UK
"Down In Flames"	1996	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Great Divide
"F.N.T."		—	—	30	—	—	—	—	—
"Closing Time"	1998	11	1	13	—	2	48	50	25		Feeling Strangely Fine
"Singing in My Sleep"		—	11	31	—	—	—	—	39
"Secret Smile"	1999	—	21	—	30	30	—	—	13	BPI: Silver
"Chemistry"	2001	—	39	—	—	—	39	21	35		All About Chemistry
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Soundtracks and 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 the title song for the 1999 Kevin Costner movie For Love of the Game.
• "Over My Head", a bonus track on some editions of All About Chemistry was used in the 2001 teen flick Summer Catch.
• "Closing Time" appeared in the movie Friends with Benefits (2011) with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis.
• 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.
• Wilson with Bic Runga contributed "Good Morning Baby" to the American Pie soundtrack in 1999.
• "F.N.T." featured in the 1996 movie The Long Kiss Goodnight and the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You.

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.

External links

• Official website
• MTV.com artists biography
• City Pages: Radio Killed the Rock & Roll Stars – book excerpt
• An Interview with Dan Wilson, Part 1 (on creativity and the creative process)