Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get A Grip, April 4, 2001
Okay, so I bought the UK version with the two extra songs. My take on Semisonic's third cd is that it's more pop than their previous two and that it works. The only shortcoming I found was upon repeated listenings it's too poppy, catchy, simple, whatever you like to call it. This can lead to a premature listening burnout. I collect quite a bit of music each year and I have to say that "All About Chemistry" is a solid pop cd. There are plenty of catchy and memorable songs like "Chemistry", "Act Naturally", "Sunshine & Chocolate", "Get A Grip" and on the UK version, the bonus song "Girlfriend". I have a feeling that radio, record company and the average listening audience is going to overlook this nice cd. I haven't seen a video nor heard any songs on our radio stations here. It's a shame because it seems that Semisonic have something to offer that's fresh. It's worth getting the import with the pink chemistry beakers on the cover and the two extra tracks "Girlfriend" and "Ordinary Life".
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Album of the Year, November 8, 2001
All great bands make at least one major leap in their careers. Those rare bands that create masterpieces sometimes do so unexpectedly. Such is the case with Semisonic. Before "All About Chemistry" Semisonic executed moments of great promise. There were songs on each of their first two albums that suggested the band were capable of clever hooks at the least and perhaps more. I, for one, did not realize the songwriting genius that was brewing inside of Dan Wilson; and I definitely did not expect the band to put together an album of songs which all work together the way these twelve do."All About Chemistry" is a rare album where every track is top-notch in all the ways in which one can measure greatness. Fans who wanted another 'Closing Time' from the album won't find it here. The songwriting is truly original; Dan Wilson has created wonderful textures and moving pop-symphonies in the tradition of another great songwriter from California, Brian Wilson. 'Act Naurally' and 'She's Got My Number' are both stand-out tracks. However, Wilson ups the ante on the second half of the album. 'Who's Stopping You' and 'I Wish' succesfully provide a build-up which culminates in the wonderful collaboration with Carole King on 'One True Love.' Semisonic realize exactly what is needed on each song on the album. Their choices of instruments are never too sparse nor too embellished. 'Get a grip' is perfectly articulated on the electric guitar. And in the finale, 'El Matador' it becomes evident that there is more songwriting talent in the band besides Wilson's. Like "Pet Sounds," This album contains a great cycle of songs which can be enjoyed separately, but they are more effectively appreciated together in sequence. This is the most well-concieved album of the year; and again, like "Pet Sounds" it is an album that I suspect will be better understood years down the road when it is has survived the test of time.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pleasing effort, April 25, 2001
I don't usually write reviews, but I felt it necessary to contradict bologna4's statements. I bought this album on a whim, having only sort of liked Feeling Strangely Fine (to be exact, I love five songs on it, and hate the rest).Are Feeling Strangely Fine and All About Chemistry the same album? Most definitely not. I think the latter is better. Though the energetic rock vibe that make "Closing Time" and "Singing In My Sleep" so classic is sacrificed to a degree, it's all for the sake of maturation. While surely the radio-friendly "Chemistry," "Sunshine & Chocolate" and "Get A Grip" (all, along with several other tracks on the album, alluding heavily to the maturity and immaturity of sex) will be the more popular of the album, I disagree. The ballads "Act Naturally," "She's Got My Number" and "One True Love" are already classics in my book. There's also a hint of experimentation with the moody "Bed" and out-of-tempo-but-still-cool "Who's Stopping You?" However, by far my favorite track is the drummer-written-but-guitarist-sung "El Matador," who's lyrical and musical maturity is something you will find nothing like on Feeling Strangely Fine or Great Divide. In conclusion, don't be like me and write this album off as a sell-out follow-up of a one-hit wonder. It's a lot more, and worth fifteen bucks. It hasn't left my CD player in the past two weeks.
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