“melding rock intensity with sing-along melodies… gritty” – Glide
Soul Asylum formed more than forty years ago. Now, they remain one of the most inspiring and hardworking bands in the rock scene. Here, this is thanks to their raucous and emphatic combination of punk energy, guitar-fueled firepower, and rhythmic heft. Frontman Dave Pirner’s songs range from aggressive to heartfelt, driven by lyrics that are a mix of real-life personal insights and fictional situations. Live, the Minneapolis group possesses a formidable stage presence bristling with ragged energy and gritty, locked-in grooves. Current members include drummer Michael Bland (Prince / Paul Westerberg), lead guitarist Ryan Smith and bassist Jeremy Tappero.
Initially known as Loud Fast Rules, Soul Asylum formed in the early 1980s, when Pirner was still in high school. There, they quickly became part of the celebrated Minneapolis music scene along with peers like The Replacements and Hüsker Dü. Soul Asylum entered the major-label world with 1988’s Hang Time. Then, they released And the Horse They Rode In On, an album produced by current Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan. The band broke through commercially with the double-platinum 1992 album Grave Dancers Union. Also, this contained the Grammy-winning Billboard Top Five hit “Runaway Train” and Number One modern rock smash “Somebody to Shove.” After leaping to this mainstream success, the band kept up the momentum with 1995’s platinum Let Your Dim Light Shine. This featured the hit “Misery,” and led to appearances on the soundtracks of cult classics Chasing Amy and Clerks.
In recent years, Soul Asylum reissued several of their earlier releases. Here, this includes expanded and remastered editions of their first four original albums.
Recommended for fans of The Replacements, Goo Goo Dolls, Semisonic and Counting Crows.
