Additional personnel: Matt Wilson (guitar); Bruce Allard, Mary Bahr, Carolyn Bulay, Troy Gardner, Josh Koestenbaum.

Recorded at Seedy Underbelly, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Closing Time" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

Personnel: John Munson (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, wah-wah guitar); Dan Wilson (vocals, guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Jacob Slichter (vocals, piano, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, drums); Matt Wilson (guitar); Carolyn Boulay, Mary Bahr, Joshua Koestenbaum, Troy Gardner, Bruce Allard (strings).

Audio Mixers: Jack Joseph Puig; Jim Champagne; Ryan Freeland; Bob Clearmountain.

Recording information: Seedy Underbelly, Minneapolis, MN.

Arranger: Jacob Slichter.

While the first single from Feeling Strangely Fine doesn't necessarily show it very well, there is a lot of Ben Folds Five in Semisonic. Both employ a variety of different instruments, thus creating a sound that is sometimes very, very comparable. This is never more evident than on the fourth track, "Never You Mind." It doesn't help that Semisonic lead singer Dan Wilson adds his piano to many of the album's tracks, and that Semisonic and Ben Folds Five seem to share a dominant motif, sensuality. Track after track shows the considerable songwriting talents of Wilson, Jacob Slichter, and John Munson. ~ David M. Childers

While the first single from Feeling Strangely Fine doesn't necessarily show it very well, there is a lot of Ben Folds Five in Semisonic. Both employ a variety of different instruments, thus creating a sound that is sometimes very, very comparable. This is never more evident than on the fourth track, "Never You Mind." It doesn't help that Semisonic lead singer Dan Wilson adds his piano to many of the album's tracks, and that Semisonic and Ben Folds Five seem to share a dominant motif, sensuality. Feeling Strangely Fine, however, allows the motif to overtake the album. Track after track shows that Semisonic needs to use the considerable songwriting talents of Wilson, Jacob Slichter, and John Munson to further explore other areas of everyday life. The worst example of Semisonic's sensual downfall is the song "Completely Pleased." Not only is the song musically inferior to the majority of the other tracks, lyrics like "I wanted to see you come/come, completely pleased" are a little more than anybody needs to hear. Most of the album's lyrics are just as revealing as "Completely Pleased," just not quite as revolting. ~ David M. Childers

Semisonic likes to craft happy, mid-tempo distorto-pop songs. Fear not, however--homogeneity rears not its bland face. While acoustic guitar is present throughout, this power trio is adept at varying its textures; Moog, wah-wah guitar and a pretty string section make a happy marriage here. In his lower range, lead vocalist/guitarist Dan Wilson adds a Dave Matthews-esque flavor, while higher up one hears echoes of Bono and Elton John. His guitar lines are simple and evocative, yet reinforced with enough overdrive to feel naughty. "Never You Mind" opens with piano reminiscent of Beatles rompers like "Lady Madonna," generously lacquered with trippy synth whistles and bubbles. The infectious guitar riff on "California" (that's Ca-li-forn-Eye-ah) is a welcome companion to a song about home and volcanoes. Brimming with original popcraft, FEELING STRANGELY FINE is true to its title, rising above its plaintive undertone with a bittersweet sense of wonder.