[.ca] While You Were Out

Was that Soul Asylum or a garage band:
That CD represents about the worst drum effort I have ever heard. It even tops Made to be Broken. I am a big fan of theirs and own almost all of their records, but will not be purchasing this one for fear of cracking my windows.

Remember the best live band on the planet?:
You wouldn't know it from their later work, but in the mid 1980's, nobody could touch these guys for flat out, big fun, ear bleeding straight ahead rock and roll, (with a little punk rock mixed in, not to mention an occasional Bad Company cover). You can still relive the glory days with "While you Were Out" and the companion "Made to Be Broken". From the fade in of 'Freaks', the eleven tracks come awfully close to replicating the intensity of their live show. If you were lucky enough to see them in the day, close your eyes and drift back to when 'alternative' rock was for college radio only, no one even knew where Seattle was, and half your records were from Twin Tone. Then again, I only bought the CD because my cassette bootleg finally gave it up after fifteen years.

PUNK PUNK PUNK:
You just can't get punkier than Miracle Mile. Not Greenday, NoFx, Pennywise, or even Offspring can get punkier than that song. The album is awesome, a blend of punk and Rock and one song has a little country. It deserves that 5 star rating.

One of Soul Asylum's best:
Anyone else out there just a little tired of Soul Asylum's new found depth and maturity? well take a stroll back to early 1980s and listen to this. Dave and co at their best. Full-on punk sound reminiscent of latter-day Husker Du. Hey, you've even got the original Closer To the Stars (not the Candy... bonus track) so you can hear how it should've sounded. My only regret? Never seeing these guys when they had this fire in their souls...

Don't expect "Runaway Train":
If you got into Soul Asylum via "Runaway Train", this album probably is not for you, but it has two of my all-time favorite Soul Asylum songs: Closer to the Stars and Miracle Mile. Not a perfect album like "Hang Time", or "Horse They Rode In On", but enough guts and heart to merit a solid 4 stars...

• Freaks
• Carry On
• No Man's Land
• Crashing Down
• Judge
• Sun Don't Shine
• Closer to the Stars
• Never Too Soon
• Miracle Mile
• Lap of Luxury
• Passing Sad Daydream