Soul Asylum – Delayed Reaction (2012): Half Notes

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Soul Asylum is back following a six-year gap between projects, the last of which was completed by Dave Pirner and Co. as bassist Karl Mueller succumbed to cancer. Tommy Stinson (who, while with the Replacements, was a labelmate of Soul Asylum’s at Twin Tone) filled in on some of the bass parts for 2006’s The Silver Lining, and he remains in the lineup today. With Delayed Reaction, you hear bits of their ragged indie sound, but also a few moments of spit-shine polish that will surely connect with fans of the major-label 1990s breakout hit “Runaway Train.” That layered complexity is probably to be expected, though, since Soul Asylum — which is rounded out by original member Dan Murphy and former Prince drummer Michael Brand — pieced this appropriately named album together in sessions spread out over six years. More pleasantly surprising is how cohesive, and energized the recalibrated group sounds. A long time coming, but well worth the wait.

‘Half Notes’ are quick-take thoughts on music from Something Else! Reviews, presented whenever the mood strikes us.

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Nick DeRiso