Little Bit Of Sky, by Semisonic

Somehow in 2023 Semisonic released an album that I never heard of, and so as soon as I found out it existed I had to go and listen to it, given that I am a fan of their entire body of work. Given that their previous EP had been a moderate success, even if the band hadn’t released an album since All About Chemistry, how does the album work out? Is it the sort of album that is worth giving a listen to, even if only the die-hards are even looking for music from them at this point? Let’s find out. Here is a track-by-track review:

Little Bit Of Sky – This generally mid-tempo acoustic number is vintage Semisonic, with its message of hope and regret, with Dan Wilson’s believable expression that he only needs a little bit to get by.

The Rope – This song has a familiar balance between the hope and longing for intimacy and the refusal to want to keep someone tied down, with what seems like an autobiographical tale of Wilson’s own experiences as a musician and songwriter. This is the sort of power pop that honestly deserves to be a hit single on Alternative radio.

Grow Your Own – This song is a gentle pop-rock ode to rock & roll music, about the yearning to create one’s own music as well as enjoying to listen to it and viewing it as something that remains alive and not something that is dead and gone, but something that has to be cultivated by those who love it, full of autobiographical details of how Dan Wilson got into music himself.

Don’t Fade Away – This gentle and sweet song, full of interesting percussion details and other effects, is a call to continue to enjoy life and not let it fade away. It’s a familiar sentiment, to be sure, but pleasantly expressed here.

All The Time – This somewhat surprisingly dark love song combines gorgeous music with somewhat heartbreaking lyrics about loving someone who is sometimes cruel and unkind that one just wants to be with and enjoy all the time. It’s a gorgeous song of devotion to a less than perfect person.

Keep Me In Motion – This song is a mid-tempo song that expresses the sentiment that someone needs to stay in motion to survive, a fitting sentiment for a retrospective look at life and the knowledge that one needs to keep going and keep moving forward, even if one is a middle-aged performer like the members of this underrated band.

If You Say So – This song, fitting the mood of looking back, shows John Munson singing about the difficulty and boredom of life, calling back to their song “Wishing Well” and pointing out that the life they lived as rock stars had happened, if someone else said so and remembered it, since it seems so long ago to the singer/songwriter.

Out Of The Dirt – This somewhat driving song expresses the grind of life, seeking to find a way back home and toughing one’s way through each day as it comes. With the song’s driving guitar solo and percussion, this is definitely a standout rocker track here.

It Wasn’t Like We Hoped It Would Be – This is yet another power pop song that expresses the sense of disappointment with the freedom that the band enjoyed after its brief moment of fame, and that dissatisfaction helps to create a picture of gently humorous regret, full of distorted guitars and plaintive lyrics.

So Amazed – This lovely song is a ode to love and expresses the narrator’s enjoyment of his relationship and his pleasure in her love, even if things are not always perfect. The amazement expresses the enjoyment of doing nothing with someone one loves, a sentiment I can personally appreciate a great deal.

Only Empathy – This song, another relationship song, expresses the singer’s understanding of his partner and the lack of knowledge he has about how she deals with her struggles, and that he only has empathy to give to her. Sometimes, often even, that is enough, and it’s a touching sign of devotion.

Beautiful Sky (f/Jim James) – The album ends with a gentle song expresses the hope that even with the troubles of life, the sky and life are beautiful, and perhaps it would be good if that was enough. It’s a simple and somewhat basic song, but it’s a lovely sentiment and a sign of acceptance of what life has to offer.

As far as an album goes, Semisonic made this one knowing (probably accurately) that the only people who would care about it are the longtime fans. There’s just about no shot of anything on this album hitting any charts, but the listeners who have stuck with the band through thick and thin will find here a roughly even balance between songs about love dealing with relationships with imperfect people that are filled with enjoyment and devotion, songs about the music business and the retrospective look at the past and how things worked out differently than anyone would have hoped or planned, and songs that deal with the need to accept life as it is and deal with it on its own terms. This is the sort of album that is made by middle-aged people who have come to terms with where they are, with who they are, and with what they have done, and who are in a place in life where despite the problems of this world that exist, they are personally content. It is admirably done, and is a worthwhile part of an excellent, if mostly obscure, body of work from one of my own personal favorite bands.