Semisonic

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American rock band

title: "Semisonic" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["alternative-rock-groups-from-minnesota", "american-post-grunge-musical-groups", "musical-trios-from-minnesota", "mca-records-artists", "musical-groups-established-in-1995", "musical-groups-disestablished-in-2001", "musical-groups-reestablished-in-2006", "musical-groups-disestablished-in-2006", "musical-groups-reestablished-in-2017", "1995-establishments-in-minnesota", "2001-disestablishments-in-minnesota", "musical-groups-from-minneapolis"] description: "American rock band" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semisonic" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American rock band ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

FieldValue
nameSemisonic
imageSemisonic - First Avenue - 1-28-2023 - 010.jpg
captionSemisonic performing in 2023
landscapeyes
altSemisonic playing onstage
aliasPleasure (1993–1995)
originMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
genre
years_active
label
associated_acts* Trip Shakespeare
website
module{{Infobox
childyes
titleLogo
headerstylebackground:#b0c4de
image[[File:Logo-semisonic-red.png
current_members* John Munson
::

| name = Semisonic | image = Semisonic - First Avenue - 1-28-2023 - 010.jpg | caption = Semisonic performing in 2023 | landscape = yes | alt = Semisonic playing onstage | alias = Pleasure (1993–1995) | origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | genre = | years_active = | label = | associated_acts = * Trip Shakespeare

Semisonic is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1995, consisting of Dan Wilson (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), John Munson (bass, keyboards, backing vocals, guitar), and Jacob Slichter (drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals). They are best known in the U.S. for their 1998 top-20 single "Closing Time".

In 2025, Chad Childers of Loudwire included the band in his list of "10 '90s Post-Grunge Bands That Should Have Been Bigger".

History

Formation and debut album

After the breakup of Trip Shakespeare, Wilson and Munson joined up with drummer Slichter to form the band Pleasure in 1993. By 1995, they had changed their name to Semisonic. An EP, Pleasure, was released that year on Boston indie label CherryDisc. Semisonic had signed a record contract with Elektra Records to record the Great Divide album. During recording, Bob Krasnow, the president of Elektra Records had quit, and in the changeover to a new president, the label dropped Semisonic. The band then signed with MCA Records, and finished recording the album. The studio full-length Great Divide was released in 1996 on MCA.

Breakthrough and international success

Semisonic's breakthrough came two years later in 1998 when their second album, Feeling Strangely Fine, reached the Top 50 chart on the strength of the hit single "Closing Time", their biggest hit in the United States. During a 2008 performance at Harvard's Sanders Theatre, Wilson said that it was originally written about the birth of his first child.

Their international career also blossomed when another song from the album, "Secret Smile", quickly became a UK radio favorite in the summer of 1999, eventually peaking at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

Third album and hiatus

In early 2001, the band released its third album, All About Chemistry, The single "Chemistry" was a mainstay overseas; however the album did not fare as well in the United States. Another song, "Over My Head", was used in the 2001 teen flick Summer Catch, and Semisonic rode the wave touring various cities in and around the UK. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Semisonic.jpg" caption="Semisonic performing in a 2006 basement concert. L-R: Munson, Wilson, and Slichter" alt="The band onstage"] ::

Wilson had spoken about doing more Semisonic music in the future but said, "The busy day-to-day life keeps pushing it further into the future." All About Chemistry would be their last studio release until reconvening for the You're Not Alone EP which they put out in 2020.

2017–2019

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Semisonic_-First_Avenue-Minneapolis-Feeling_Strangely_Fine(25225878488).jpg" caption="Munson and Wilson onstage with Semisonic in 2017" alt="Munson playing bass and Wilson on guitar"] ::

To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of their first album, Great Divide, the band reunited for a series of three shows in June 2017 – June 14 at a small club in St. Paul, and June 16–17 at First Avenue in Minneapolis. The band played Great Divide in its entirety.

In December 2017, the band played three more shows in the Twin Cities to commemorate the approaching 20th anniversary of their second album, Feeling Strangely Fine, performing the album in its entirety. In 2018, Feeling Strangely Fine was given a rerelease for the album's twentieth anniversary, including its first vinyl pressing. The anniversary edition included four songs not on the original album: "Long Way from Home", "I'm a Liar", "Beautiful Regret", and "Makin' a Plan".

In July 2019, Semisonic performed at Summerfest in Milwaukee and then at the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis. During their 2017–2019 shows, the band performed some new, previously unreleased songs, including "Basement Tapes", "All It Would Take", and "You're Not Alone"

First Avenue

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Semisonic_-_First_Avenue_Star.jpg" caption="access-date=May 10, 2020 }} Wilson and Munson's previous group, [[Trip Shakespeare]], also has a star making them among the few musicians with multiple stars on the mural."] ::

2020–present

On June 26, 2020, Semisonic released the single "You're Not Alone", their first new material in 19 years, and later released the full You're Not Alone EP on September 18, 2020.

On January 27 and 28, 2023, the band played two shows at First Avenue to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the shows’ sponsor, Twin Cities public radio station The Current.

Semisonic supported Barenaked Ladies from June 2, 2023 through June 26, 2023 on the Last Summer on Earth 2023 tour.

In the summer of 2023, the band also began releasing singles from its upcoming album, Little Bit of Sun. On June 5, Semisonic released the singles “Little Bit of Sun” and “Grow Your Own.”  On August 1, another single, "The Rope," was released, along with a video for the song made by Phil Harder.  On September 12, the band released “Out of the Dirt,” co-written by Lori McKenna and featuring Jason Isbell on guitar.

The full album of twelve songs, Little Bit of Sun, was released on November 3, 2023.

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table title="List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications"] | Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | US | AUS Peaks in Australia: | CAN | IRL Peak chart positions in Ireland: | NZL | UK | Great Divide | Feeling Strangely Fine | All About Chemistry | Little Bit of Sun | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | 43 | 66 | 55 | 53 | 17 | 16 | | | | | | | | | | 103 | — | — | 28 | — | 13 | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Live albums

  • One Night at First Avenue (2003)

EPs

Singles

::data[format=table] | Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | US Air. | US Alt | US Main | US AAA | AUS | CAN Peaks in Canada: | IRL | NLD | NZL | UK | "Down in Flames" | "If I Run" | "F.N.T." | "Closing Time" | "Singing in My Sleep" | "Secret Smile" | "Chemistry" | "Get a Grip" | "You're Not Alone" | "Little Bit of Sun"/"Grow Your Own" | "The Rope" | "Out of the Dirt" | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1996 | — | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Great Divide | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | 38 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | 35 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1998 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 40 | 33 | 48 | 84 | 50 | 25 | | Feeling Strangely Fine | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | 11 | 31 | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | 39 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1999 | — | 21 | — | 17 | — | 30 | 26 | — | — | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2001 | — | 39 | — | 6 | — | — | 39 | 84 | 21 | 35 | | All About Chemistry | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 109 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2020 | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | You're Not Alone EP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Little Bit of Sun | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart, or were not released in this territory. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Soundtracks and compilations

Other projects by members

Wilson took time out to do some solo projects and play tour dates around the Midwest in December. Munson joined Wilson's brother and former Trip Shakespeare frontman Matt Wilson to form a side project, The Flops, in 2001, though they were expected to make a final performance in early 2005. In 2009, John Munson and Matt Wilson reunited to form a new band The Twilight Hours. They have released two albums, Stereo Night (2009) and Black Beauty (2016), and have been touring.

In 2004, Slichter's book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star was published, detailing some of the experiences the group had while touring and attempting to get airplay on radio stations across the US.

In late spring of 2005, John Munson began playing in a new jazz trio, The New Standards, featuring Chan Poling of The Suburbs and Steve Roehm. This band plays new jazz renditions of "classic" songs.

In October 2007, Rick Rubin's label American Recordings released Wilson's solo album, Free Life, featuring collaborations with numerous artists including Munson and Slichter. The song "Cry" was the album's single.

References

References

  1. (2025-05-20). "10 '90s Post-Grunge Bands That Should Have Been Bigger".
  2. "Monday Night Live – Pleasure – 1993".
  3. "SEMISONIC {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company".
  4. . ["The Stars"](http://first-avenue.com/about/thestars).
  5. Bream, Jon. (May 3, 2019). "10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show". [[Star Tribune]].
  6. Marsh, Steve. (May 13, 2019). "First Avenue's Star Wall". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.
  7. Rettig, James. (June 26, 2020). "Semisonic – "You're Not Alone"". [[Stereogum]].
  8. (21 January 2023). "Semisonic.com".
  9. "Barenaked Ladies: Last Summer on Earth 2023".
  10. (2023-06-05). "Semisonic Share New Songs "Little Bit Of Sun" & "Grow Your Own": Listen".
  11. Blistein, Jon. (2023-08-01). "Re-Opening Time: Semisonic Plot First Album in Over 20 Years, 'Little Bit of Sun'".
  12. "Semisonic – The Rope".
  13. (2023-09-12). "Semisonic & Jason Isbell Share New Song "Out Of The Dirt": Listen".
  14. Valish, Frank. "Little Bit of Sun".
  15. "Semisonic Chart History: ''Billboard'' 200".
  16. "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada".
  17. "Discography Semisonic". Hung Medien.
  18. "RIAA – Gold & Platinum Semisonic certified albums". [[Recording Industry Association of America]].
  19. (September 29, 1998). "Semisonic – MC certifications". [[Canadian Recording Industry Association]].
  20. {{cite certification
  21. Billboard. (June 27, 1998). "Radio Songs Chart History – Semisonic". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  22. Billboard. (June 27, 1998). "Modern Rock Chart History – Semisonic". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  23. Billboard. "Mainstream Rock Chart History – Semisonic". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  24. Billboard. "Adult Alternative Airplay Chart History – Semisonic". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  25. "Dutch chart peaks". dutchcharts.nl.
  26. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel.
  27. (May 17, 1996). "Radio & Records".
  28. (August 16, 1996). "Radio & Records".
  29. (September 20, 1996). "Radio & Records".
  30. (January 10, 1997). "Radio & Records".
  31. "Drummer's Book Takes Shine off Rock-Star Life". NPR.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

alternative-rock-groups-from-minnesotaamerican-post-grunge-musical-groupsmusical-trios-from-minnesotamca-records-artistsmusical-groups-established-in-1995musical-groups-disestablished-in-2001musical-groups-reestablished-in-2006musical-groups-disestablished-in-2006musical-groups-reestablished-in-20171995-establishments-in-minnesota2001-disestablishments-in-minnesotamusical-groups-from-minneapolis