So, I purchased the new Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) disc yesterday. Mostly for nostalgia. Soul Asylum was my favorite band in my junior high/early high school days...I've basically been a fan since about the time Made to Be Broken came out.

I wasn't expecting anything out of Pirner's solo disc, but man, it's really, really good. It's got a really nice jazz/funk influence going on (he now lives in New Orleans), and Pirner manages to come off as the world's coolest lounge singer for much of the album, even pulling off a pretty credible Prince imitation on a few tracks (especially "Tea"). It's a really nice surprise.

It sounds like it sounds absolutely nothing like Soul Asylum then?

Some of it does; some of it doesn't. "Faces & Names" is a really good folky, story song...maybe the best he's ever written. "Never Recover" and "Much Too Easy" both could be Soul Asylum songs as well. Most of it's got a completely different feel. New Orleans has had a really positive effect on Pirner's songwriting and playing. Even the songs that do have a bit of a Soul Asylum feel are better than anything on their later discs.

I've been a fan for a good while myself and was thinking about picking this up for the same reason. I heard an interview with Pirner which made me kind of happy. He said it's time for him to start screaming again on the next Soul Asylum album. Hopefully they'll start rocking again like pre Grave Dancers Union. Their last three albums have some good songs on them but aren't my favorites.

Made to Be Broken and Hang Time are my favorite albums they've done. The new Pirner disc doesn't really rock out at all. In fact, it "rocks" less than any Soul Asylum album...yet it's also more upbeat. It's a different sound for him, but I like it. It's nice to see he's not afraid to play the trumpet again on this one. Everything from Grave Dancers' on barely had any trumpet.

I also liked their early stuff. It's amazing how incredibly quickly they were out of the spotlight after Grave Daner's.

In the interview I heard, Pirner was talking about his solo album. He said it was something he had to get out of his system. Then he started to talk about the new Soul Asylum album and he said it was time for him to start screaming again. I took this as they were going to plug in their guitars again and put down the acoustic guitars. Atleast I hope this is what he meant. I love everything up to "Horse", with "While You Were Out" probably being my favorite. Their last three albums have some songs I like but the albums are too acoustic and mello for my taste.