It’s an almost theme today, catching up with the songwriters who wrote some of the later ’90s bigger alt.rock hits. From the men who penned “Popular” to the man behind “Closing Time” and “Secret Smile,” then. Since Semisonic’s last album in ’01, Dan Wilson’s lent his songsmithery to a host of folks like Rachel Yamagata, Mike Doughty, and most successfully, Dixie Chicks (picking up a Grammy for co-writing “Not Ready To Make Nice”). Looks like he impressed industry savior Rick Rubin during his time with the Chicks, ’cause the Columbia head honcho mans the controls on Dan’s first solo LP Free Life. “Baby Doll” doesn’t try too hard to recreate any Semisonic sonics, instead riding a slowly descending, sometimes diminished chord progression through to a pretty great, yearning hook. It’s a good look and nice growth for a 46-year-old former alt dude.
Hear another new single, “Cry,” at MySpace. Free Life is out 10/16 on American Recordings.
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Hearing Dan Wilson has a new record out is pretty cool. Semisonic’s music has definitely grown on me over the years, and apparently he’s got good solo writing chops as well. Good on him.
recording this in grizzly bear’s yellow house was a good idea!
For more great Dan Wilson work (along with his brother Matt), check out Trip Shakespeare. Glad to see he’s still making music.
I’ve been chewing my stereogum for too long its fucking bland now
Glad to see this album finally out after years in the works, if his blog is any indication. Also looks like a reunion of sorts with his old bands, with Matt from Trip, Jacob Slichter from Semisonic and John Munson from both groups making appearances.
Speaking of Jacob, check out his book, So You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star?, if you haven’t already. A sobering look at the music industry and how things fell apart for a successful band who didn’t throw it all away for drugs and whores.