Feeling Strangely Fine

Last updated
Feeling Strangely Fine
Semisonic - Feeling Strangely Fine.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 24, 1998
RecordedApril–August 1997
StudioSeedy Underbelly Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Genre Alternative rock, power pop, post-grunge
Length50:31
Label MCA
Producer Nick Launay
Semisonic chronology
Great Divide
(1996)
Feeling Strangely Fine
(1998)
All About Chemistry
(2001)
Singles from Feeling Strangely Fine
  1. "Closing Time"
    Released: March 10, 1998
  2. "Singing in My Sleep"
    Released: August 18, 1998
  3. "Secret Smile"
    Released: January 11, 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B [2]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
NME 5/10 [4]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-dud.svg [6]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Feeling Strangely Fine is the second studio album by American rock band Semisonic. It is the follow-up to the band's debut album Great Divide recorded at Seedy Underbelly Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The album contains some of Semisonic's best-known songs, including the major radio hit "Closing Time", as well as the singles "Singing in My Sleep" and "Secret Smile". The song "Never You Mind" was featured in the 1999 film Never Been Kissed . [9]

Contents

Recording

The band had over 60 new songs in mind as they went into the recording process and had three specific requirements when they decided they wanted to record a new album. First, they didn't want to record any demotapes beyond simple guitar and vocal basement sketches, meaning the album versions would be the first band recordings of the songs. Second, they wanted no deadline for the finished masters. Third, the trio wanted to create tracks for the album in various hi- and lo-tech settings around Minneapolis, and use their computers to meld the different sounds together. Nick Launay was brought in to produce the album and the band recorded twenty songs over the course of four months. They pared those down to sixteen, mixed them, and used the best twelve for the finished record.

Track listing

All tracks written by Dan Wilson unless otherwise noted.

Feeling Strangely Fine track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Closing Time" 4:33
2."Singing in My Sleep" 4:30
3."Made to Last" 5:02
4."Never You Mind"Wilson, Jacob Slichter 4:24
5."Secret Smile" 4:39
6."DND" 4:11
7."Completely Pleased" 3:19
8."This Will Be My Year"Slichter4:32
9."All Worked Out" 2:52
10."California" 5:29
11."She Spreads Her Wings" John Munson 3:06
12."Gone to the Movies" 3:52
20th anniversary edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Long Way from Home"4:05
14."I'm a Liar"4:24
15."Beautiful Regret"3:56
16."Makin' a Plan"4:10

Personnel

Semisonic

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Feeling Strangely Fine
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [18] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [19] Platinum350,000 [17]
United States (RIAA) [20] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semisonic</span> American rock band

Semisonic is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1995, consisting of Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter. They are best known in the U.S. for their 1998 top-20 single "Closing Time". They also had international success with the singles "Singing in My Sleep", "Secret Smile" and "Chemistry".

<i>Face the Music</i> (Electric Light Orchestra album) 1975 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

Face the Music is the fifth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in September 1975 by United Artists Records and on 14 November 1975 in the United Kingdom by Jet Records. The album moves away from the large-scale classical orchestrated sound of the previous album, Eldorado, in favour of more "radio-friendly" pop/rock songs, though the string sections are still very prominent. The new sound proved successful for the group, for Face the Music was the first ELO album to go platinum.

<i>Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.</i> 1967 studio album by The Monkees

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. is the fourth album by the Monkees. It was released on November 6, 1967, during a period when the band exerted more control over their music and performed many of the instruments themselves. However, although the group had complete artistic control over the procceedings, they invited more outside contributions than on their previous album, Headquarters, and used session musicians to complement their sound. The album also featured one of the first uses of the Moog synthesizer in popular music. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold over three million copies. It was the band's fourth consecutive album to reach No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

<i>Trilogy</i> (Emerson, Lake & Palmer album) 1972 studio album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Trilogy is the third studio album by English progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in June 1972, by Island Records. The group had spent most of 1971 touring, and paused in September so they could record a new album at Advision Studios with Eddy Offord resuming his role as engineer. It would be his last with the group, as he later elected to work full-time with Yes. The album features "Hoedown", an arrangement of Aaron Copland's ballet composition which became a live favourite.

<i>All About Chemistry</i> 2001 studio album by Semisonic

All About Chemistry is the third studio album by American rock band Semisonic, released on March 13, 2001, through MCA Records. With this release, the band failed, at least in America, to capitalize on the momentum it had generated with the song "Closing Time" from their previous album, Feeling Strangely Fine. This had a softer edge than Feeling Strangely Fine and was not as popular with the fans. By 2002, the album had sold 58,000 copies, and its poor sales partially led to the band going on an unofficial hiatus. However, it has a five star rating by Q Magazine. The track "Chemistry" was featured on the soundtrack for 40 Days and 40 Nights.

<i>Chaos and Creation in the Backyard</i> 2005 studio album by Paul McCartney

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is the thirteenth solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released on 12 and 13 September, 2005. Some 18 months in the making, the album was produced by Radiohead and Beck collaborator Nigel Godrich at George Martin's suggestion.

<i>Dog & Butterfly</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Heart

Dog & Butterfly is the fourth studio album by American rock band Heart, released in September 1978, by Portrait Records, following a legal dispute with Mushroom Records over the release of the band's second studio album, Magazine, in April 1978. Dog & Butterfly peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned the singles "Straight On" and "Dog & Butterfly".

<i>Private Audition</i> 1982 studio album by Heart

Private Audition is the sixth studio album by American rock band Heart, released on May 20, 1982, by Epic Records. The album reached number 25 on the US Billboard 200, spending 14 weeks on the chart. It spawned the single "This Man Is Mine", which peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is the last Heart album to feature longtime members Mike Derosier and Steve Fossen, who left after the recording of the album and were replaced by Denny Carmassi and Mark Andes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secret Smile (song)</span> 1999 single by Semisonic

"Secret Smile" is a song by American rock band Semisonic. The single, released to American radio on January 11, 1999, gained the band brief international popularity. A live version of the song recorded at The Gorge Amphitheatre, as well as a mix by the Orb had previously been released as a B-side to "Singing in My Sleep". The song was featured in the film Simply Irresistible and in the TV series Charmed and Dawson's Creek.

<i>Songs</i> (Luther Vandross album) 1994 studio album by Luther Vandross

Songs is the ninth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross. It was released by Epic Records on September 20, 1994. The album, a collection of cover versions, produced the singles "Endless Love", "Always and Forever", and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". According to an interview both Vandross and Mariah Carey gave in Japan following the release of their duet "Endless Love", there was mention that Carey had given advice as to what songs Vandross would cover on this album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Closing Time (Semisonic song)</span> 1998 single by Semisonic

"Closing Time" is a song by American rock band Semisonic. It was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, Feeling Strangely Fine, and began to receive mainstream radio airplay on April 27, 1998. The ballad was written by Dan Wilson and produced by Nick Launay.

<i>Unbreakable</i> (Backstreet Boys album) 2007 studio album by Backstreet Boys

Unbreakable is the sixth studio album by American vocal group Backstreet Boys. It was released on October 24, 2007 in Japan and October 30 in the United States by Jive Records.

<i>Earth</i> (Jefferson Starship album) 1978 studio album by Jefferson Starship

Earth is the fourth album by American rock band Jefferson Starship. The album was recorded in 1977, with the same band lineup as the previous album, Spitfire and released in 1978.

<i>Something Else</i> (Robin Thicke album) 2008 studio album by Robin Thicke

Something Else is the third studio album by American R&B singer Robin Thicke, released on September 30, 2008. It is a follow-up to Thicke's highly successful second album The Evolution of Robin Thicke (2006) and features a guest appearance by Lil Wayne.

<i>Unstoppable</i> (Rascal Flatts album) 2009 studio album by Rascal Flatts

Unstoppable is the sixth studio album by American country music group Rascal Flatts, and their final album to be released with Lyric Street Records. It was released on April 7, 2009 and produced four singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. with 351,000 copies sold, making it the band's fourth consecutive number-one debut on the chart. It topped the 1 million mark on October 31, 2009. As of June 2010, the album had sold over 1,230,638 copies in the United States. This was the band's final album to top the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucky Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)</span> 1970 single by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

"Lucky Man" is a song by the English progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer, from the group's 1970 self-titled debut album. Written by Greg Lake when he was 12 years old and recorded by the trio using improvised arrangements, the song contains one of rock music's earliest instances of a Moog synthesizer solo. "Lucky Man" was released as a single in 1970 and reached the top 20 in the Netherlands. The song also charted in the United States and Canada. The single was re-released in 1973 and charted again in the U.S. and Canada.

<i>The Lion the Beast the Beat</i> 2012 studio album by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

The Lion The Beast The Beat is the fourth studio album by American rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, released on June 12, 2012. The album debuted at 17 on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart, selling 24,000 units in its opening week. The album has sold 159,000 copies in the US as of June 2015.

<i>In Your Eyes</i> (George Benson album) 1983 studio album by George Benson

In Your Eyes is a 1983 album by George Benson. It is his only album produced by producer Arif Mardin. It includes the hit "Lady Love Me ".

<i>Beautiful Broken</i> 2016 studio album by Heart

Beautiful Broken is the sixteenth studio album by American rock band Heart, released on July 8, 2016, by Concord Records. Aside from two new songs, the album consists mostly of re-interpretations of songs from the band's earlier albums.

<i>Come Tomorrow</i> (album) Album by Dave Matthews Band

Come Tomorrow is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Dave Matthews Band, and was released on June 8, 2018. The album is their first since 2012's Away from the World.

References

  1. Childers, David M.. Feeling Strangely Fine at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  2. Bautz, Mark (1998-04-10). "Feeling Strangely Fine Review". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  3. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 997.
  4. "Feeling Strangely Fine - NME".
  5. Blake, Mark. "Review: Semisonic – Feeling Strangely Fine". Q (July 1999). EMAP Metro Ltd: 146.
  6. Christgau, Robert. "Semisonic" . Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  7. Tarnow, Noah (1998-03-23). "Semisonic: Feeling Strangely Fine : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  8. Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Semisonic". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  727. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  9. Kaplan, Illana (April 9, 2019). "'Never Been Kissed' Turns 20: Pucker Up for Its 6 Best Music Moments". Billboard.
  10. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 248.
  11. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7949". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  12. "Charts.nz – Semisonic – Feeling Strangely Fine". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  13. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  14. "The Official Charts Company - Semisonic - Feeling Strangely Fine" (PHP). Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  15. "Semisonic Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  16. "Billboard.BIZ - Year-end Charts - Billboard 200 - 1998". billboard.biz. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  17. 1 2 3 "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  18. "Canadian album certifications – Semisonic – Feeling Strangely Fine". Music Canada . Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  19. "British album certifications – Semisonic – Feeling Strangely Fine". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  20. "American album certifications – Semisonic – Feeling Strangely Fine". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 2012-02-16.