Soul Asylum "Hurry Up and Wait"

 Soul Asylum "Hurry Up and Wait" 8/10

What an apt name for a record mired by bad timing and distribution issues!  This disc was supposed to be with us on Record Store Day 2020, but of course was pushed back due to the Covid Pandemic.  It did finally trickle out in the Summer as things began to reopen; but didn't hit the shelves as intended until the final Record Store Day drop of 2020, at the end of October.

This RSD edition of the album is a double 45 RPM (Dave and co wanted you to get the most bang for your buck) with a bonus 7" single.  We are doing a deep dive into this one tonight because I do love some Soul Asylum, but also because we had a Minneapolis-esque snowstorm here last night, with another few rounds on the horizon.  It felt like a good time to revist a band that many of you maybe hadn't thought much of since the mid 90s.

I will be transparent here; I initially blind-bought this album out of loyalty to the band.  But after dropping the needle on it, I could tell this record was something special.  This is easily the best Soul Asylum record in 25 years.  Soul Asylum was sort of my gateway as a kid into the Minneapolis punk and rock sound.  If you were alive and tuned in in the early 90s, singles like "Black Gold" and "Runaway Train" were inescapable.  "Runaway Train" even had a successful music video featuring photos of missing children.  It was such a successful campaign at reuniting families and finding lost kids, that they edited the video a few times to include new missing persons.  This even prompted Soul Asylum to be tapped to play at Bill Clinton's first Inauguration.  

So, coming out of the shadows as "little brother" band in the Minneapolis to the bigger and previously more successful groups like Husker Du and The Replacements, the 90s smiled down on Dave Pirner and company.  A string of hits took the Minneapolis scene to mainstream; an achievement that had eluded the forefathers of the sound.

After the success of the 90s, Soul Asylum began to fade into the background a bit.  A string of follow up records to their groundbreaking "Grave Dancer's Union" and "Let Your Dim Light Shine" showed diminishing returns.  In 2005, bassist Karl Mueller  passed away from throat cancer.  He was replaced for a while by Replacement Tommy Stinson, who was more than happy to lend a hand to his old pals.  In 2012, founding guitarist Dan Murphy retired from music in 2012 to be with family.  The drummer's chair was never a position that had seen a longtime familiar face.  So, some might say Soul Asylum is really just Dave and Company; but it always feels more like a band.

The current lineup features Dave Pirner as lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter.  Along side him is Ryan Smith on guitar.  Winston Roye on bass, and Michael Bland of Prince's backing band (yes THAT Prince) the New Power Generation.  The current lineup faithfully plays classic Soul Asylum songs, but as we find on this record, sounds like the band should as well.

To my delight upon my first and subsequent spins, a record I bought as a "let's see what they are up to" purchase has become a favorite.  Despite being mired in obvious Covid distribution issues, and being relegated to a sort of "also ran" or "nostalgia act" category, Soul Asylum is here to show anyone who is willing to listen that they are still a great band with great songs, and a lot to say.  Dave Pirner apparently moved back home to Minneapolis to make this record in the old Twin Tone records studios, and maybe that is what it took to shake this band right out of stasis.

1) "The Begining"

This song feels like it came out of the summer of 1996, not the winter of everyone's discontent.  Great opening track with a creeping riff that just oozes with 90s alt rock radio hooks.  Dave sings in the chorus "this is the beginning of a great adventure."  Although we are nearly 40 years into the career of Soul Asylum, this song feels like the beginning of a rewnewed relationship.  

2) "If I Told You"

A quasi-country ballad.  The other side of alt-rock from the Twin Cities has always been their willingness to play in other genres, or at least incorporate their elements.  The Jayhawks are a prime example of some countrified alt-rock, and even have shared some album credits with members of Soul Asylum in the supergroup Golden smog.  This midtempo country rocker feels like a love song that could find a place on a late Goo Goo Dolls record or even perhaps a Paul Westerberg solo release.  

3) "Got It Pretty Good"

Here is a rocker that is just begging for a slot on a modern alt rock or adult contemporary station.  The riff and drums hit like a barn burner.  The big bass guitar sound ties it all in a neat package.  I guess for a punk rock kid from Minneapolis who has flirted with stardom, who still tours the country and moves albums and lives the dream, Dave Pirner does have it pretty good.

4) "Make Her Laugh"

Another midtempo rocker with a sound reminiscent of Jayhawks, or even maybe some late Replacements.  The layers of guitarwork really pull this whole song together.  Acoustic guitars blended with a couple of electric rhythm tracks, and two really nice textured lead parts.  The song is a great story about still being smitten into middle age. 

5) "Busy Signals"

This track feels like it would fit right in with the collection from the experimental "Let Your Dim Light Shine."  After spending much of the 80s trying to break out from the shadow of the "bigger" Minneapolis bands, Soul Asylum fit right in with the glut of alt rock signings of the 90s.  This song harkens back to their willingness to break the mold from which they were cast a bit.  A spacey flowing riff carries the song, but nothing here is necessarily memorable.

6) "Social Butterfly"

We finally find our way to a slow rock ballad.  Heart on your sleeve lyrics and vulnerability are always part of what has united the sound of the Twin Cities.  Here, we get that same tenderness.  This is really a beautiful song.  Dave Pirner feels like he is writing to connect with his audience that no longer resides in large arenas, but medium sized halls.  This song will stop you dead in your tracks on your way to the bar for that refill of beer.

7) "Dead Letter"

The next trip on this spin feels like a traditional folk song; almost akin to the melody of "Green Sleeves."  It is a great space for Dave Pirner to do what he does best; tell us a sad, sad story.  Wayne's placement of notes on his bass part are expertly done, adding fantastic texture to the song.

8) "Landmines"

Tension breaks with this janky rhythm.  A a blues-on-steroids song, this feels like the freshest use of the pentatonic scale since the classic rock era.  Dave's ability to tell stories and create pictures in impeccable.   

9) "Here We Go"
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We are finding out way into album filler territory a bit here.  This one feels a bit phoned in, and like a sort of paint-by-numbers narrative.  The guitar playing is still top notch, but not quite enough to pull this one out of "meh" territory.

10) "Freezer Burn"

A nice back and forth syncopated riff pulls this one in.  And Michael Bland finally gets to show his chops as drummer.  I guess nobody really listens to a Soul Asylum record for the drumming, but if you have Prince's former drummer, for the love of god, let him loose!  Michael hammers away at some triplets here to drive the verse.  A very cool song built on rhythm.

11) "Silent Treatment"

The intro here harkens back to the hit single "Misery."  As do the lyrics.  Somehow, it does not feel like a retread despite this.  Another song about infatuation with a quirky girl.  Sort of cannon fodder for Soul Asylum, but for good reason.

12) "Hopped Up Feelin'"

Finally a nod back to classic, fast and loose, Soul Asylum.  This song feels like a call back to their Twin Tone catalog.  Very punkish, and fast rocking.  

13) "Silly Things"

A frank admission about being a middle aged rocker.  Dave keeps up the vulnerability here, but it also feels like he is settling into his own skin here.  He keeps talking in "used tos" but I think we want him to talk about his "I wills."

*bonus RSD 7'*

So, if you find this record in the wild, you may be getting a standard edition.  I'm not sure if it is a standard 33 1/3 LP, or if it also follows the 45 RPM LP format, but my guess is the bonus disc isn't available.  So, first I would like to say thank you to Soul Asylum and/or the label here.  instead of sloppily tagging two songs onto the end of the album as-is, we get a bonus disc to drop down.  The songs on the bonus don't really change the vibe of the record, but it is always nice to hear the record as the band and producer intended, and then listen to the bonus stuff, as opposed to something sticking out like a sore thumb.  Anyways, here we go with the 7".

A) "Rhinestone Cowboy"

These Minneapolis punks sure have an affinity for Glen Campbell.  Paul Westerberg wrote tunes for Glen's swansong effort.  Here we get a pretty faithful cover of the song by Dave Pirner.  It is a logical choice for a country track for Dave to take on, and makes for a nice bonus 45.

B) "We 3"

A Soul Asylum story from their indie days.  This B-side is from their underrated pre-explosion album "And the Horse They Rode in On."  A story about chasing after someone else's girl.  Rerecorded in these sessions with the current lineup and the more mature sound.

If you haven't checked out Soul Asylum since the 90s, now is a solid time to do so.  There is a body of work there that is worth exploring, but this album shows that Dave Pirner is still capable of writing world class songs.  They may have seemed to have faded a bit into the woodwork, relegated to town festivals, nostalgia tours, and dive bar shows, but Dave and Co show that they do still have solid music to offer.  If this is a peek into what lies in store for the band, maybe there is still time for a late period renaissance.