Customer Reviews

Let Your Dim Light Shine

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You have to admit it -- Soul Asylum had their work cut out for them on this one. After Runaway Train and Grave Dancer's Union sold I don't even know how many million copies a few years before (I know that it was a lot), they followed it with Let Your Dim Light Shine. The first single (and first track), Misery, had me hooked from the first time I heard it on the radio, and the rest of the album, though not quite as strong as Grave Dancer's Union, doesn't disappoint -- the best recommendation I can give is to start with Grave Dancer's Union, and if you like it, don't hesitate to pick this one up too.

After Misery, I Did My Best, Eyes of a Child, and To My Own Devices are great ballads. Just Like Anyone is a wonderful mid-tempo rocker, kind of in the Somebody to Shove/Black Gold vein. I don't like Caged Rat -- it sounds like a kind of thrown away grunger from a band that doesn't play hard grunge well, but most of the rest of the album is good listening.

I'm a long time fan of Soul Asylum, this being the 4th album of theirs that I bought, and I can only wish I bought it sooner! It has everything about Soul Asylum that I love, from the brilliantly intellectual lyrics (String of Pearls) to a little bit of country (Bittersweet Heart) and a little bit of pop (Misery), carefully blended together to create a lovely album. A must buy if you are fan, and if you are new listener, perhaps a good buy to experience the variety they are capable of (you will be hooked!).

"Misery" is far and away the standout track on this album. It's a perfect pop song, much more tuneful and catchy than anything else here. There's some other good stuff, but some of it is pretty lackluster and almost irritating to be honest. "Shut Down" is pretty good. I like about half of "String of Pearls." As another reviewer here noted, the lyrics are a bit embarrassing at times. And let's face it, when it comes to hard rocking, this band is far from the hardest, although they often deliberately go for a mellower direction on this album.

I thought "Misery" would be a huge hit when I first picked up the single. It seemed to perfectly ridicule the marketing of teen-age angst while celebrating it at the same time. Some of the other reviewers here who criticized the lyrics just didn't get them: they're pretty brilliant. Now I understand why this song didn't take off - it hits a little too close to the bone for the tastes of your average angst-rock fan. I think in some way it reveals a little too much, something they'd rather not consider (especially while trying to rock out).

Man oh Man, this is one fine rock n roll album. I bought it
in 1995 when I was 14 years old and its still one of my favorite records ever. I dont like to hype things too much for fear that people will be disappointed but if someone doesnt like this then we have nothing in common when it comes to music. Misery is a song among songs and is what made me a fan in the first place. Promises Broken and I Did my best are Grade A country rockers. I cant think of a bad thing to say about this album or this band, cant wait to hear what they put out next.

Clearly the greatest Soul Asylum CD out there. If you want music, here it is at its best.

I remeber how, in 1992 or 93, i bought "Grave Dancers Union" (because of Runaway Train, of course) and I was almost scared of the fact I was going to listen to "alternative" music. The scare disappeared however with the second or third listen and I discovered I loved the album. And then I bought "Let Your Dim Light Shine" and it took me about 20 minutes to add it to my top ten albums list off all time, where it still stays today.

The songs here are amazing, heartfelt and honest, while the lyrics rank among some of the best ever written in rocknroll history. I won't talk about each song, I'll just mention what I think are the best songs here. First and foremost, I Did My Best, which brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it... I can really relate to that song. Then String Of Pearls, which has some of the most amazing lyrics ever, so good that even Bob Dylan would have given his [insert valuable Bob Dylan possesion here] to have written it. To My Own Devices is touching in its vulnerability, while Promises Broken is simply wonderful... no two ways about it. Eyes of a Child is one of my favourites too, and, finally, Bittersweetheart, which in my opinion, is the best song on this album - both musically and lyrically. So do yourselves a favour and get this album... trust me, it's worth every penny.

If you havn't got it, you know you gotta have it, or you're missing out on some really great music. I loved every single track on this album, both the music and lyrics are so cool. I love especially: "Misery", "To My Own Devices", "Promises Broken", "Bittersweetheart", "String of Pearls", "Eyes of a Child", "Just like Anyone", "Tell Me When", and "I Did My Best"... Okay, that's like more than half the songs on there, but anyway. And I'd like to say to other Soul Asylum Fans that Candy From a Stranger ROCKS! Soul Asylum forever!!!!!

This album is fine. I'm a Soul Asylum fan, and I bought this for less than 3 dollars, including S&H. There are a few songs that a good on here, most notably "Misery", but the others sort of fade into obscurity. I have no idea why Butch Vig even produced this, you don't hear any of the layering that we got on Nirvana's "Nevermind". Even so, if you're a fan, buy the album. But buyer beware.

Well, in this day and age of boy bands and teen pop, great melodic bands like Soul Asylum don't get much attention from MTV or Vh1. This being said, Let Your Dim Light Shine is a pop masterpiece. Starting with the room shaking "Misery," Soul Asylum set out to show that they are not just a one hit wonder. Also great is the sweet song "Just Like Anyone." Soul Asylum is still around and still rocking, but a reference to them should be this great album.

"Let Your Dim Light Shine" is most likely the best Soul Asylum Album they've ever made!!! The songs on this CD are incredible!!! Every song is great. not one song on here do i hate. it's just plainly AWESOME!!!! U won't regret buying this one!!! Soul Asylum all the way!!!