SOUL ASYLUM New Album and Single

SOUL ASYLUM New Album and Single

‘SLOWLY BUT SHIRLEY’
SET FOR DIGITAL RELEASE 27 SEPTEMBER 2024
+ PHYSICAL RELEASE 25 OCTOBER

(photo credit – Darin Kamnetz)

The introspective acoustic ballad, a long-time fan-favourite, finally makes its studio debut after being a staple of their live performances. “It’s built from experience and pain and shame,” Pirner quips. “The joke’s always on me, let’s just put it that way. Everyone makes mistakes.”

Teaming up once again with producer Steve Jordan (known for his work with the Rolling Stones, John Mayer, Robert Cray, Keith Richards), who worked on their 1990 album ‘And the Horse They Rode In On’, Soul Asylum recorded live at the Terrarium in Minneapolis, capturing an authentic and vibrant sound.

The album’s title and cover pay homage to Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney, a pioneering drag racer who inspired Pirner during his youth. “When I was a kid, I loved drag racing,” he says. “And she was the first woman of drag race. It meant a lot to me that she was willing to stand up against all these men in racing. My manager called her up, and she gave us her blessing, which means a whole lot to me because she was a childhood hero.”

Pirner, widely recognized as one of the one of the great American songwriters, is celebrating the four-decade legacy of Soul Asylum, a journey highlighted by their breakthrough album Grave Dancers Union, which achieved double platinum status and featured the Grammy-winning hit “Runaway Train.” Despite challenges and changes, the band has remained a vital force in the rock scene, continually evolving while staying true to their roots. ‘Slowly But Shirley’ is a testament to their enduring spirit and creative prowess.

The current Soul Asylum line-up features Dave Pirner as lead vocals/guitar, Michael Bland on drums, Ryan Smith on lead guitar, and Jeremy Tappero on bass.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Soul Asylum Website

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Soul Asylum urge people to register to vote & give away two tracks

Soul Asylum urge people to register to vote & give away two tracks

Get the tracks on the bands website Here

TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR GEORGE FLOYD, HIS FAMILY, AND EVERYONE PEACEFULLY SEEKING JUSTICE TO BE SERVED SOUL ASYLUM ARE RELEASING FREE DOWNLOADS AND STREAMING OF THEIR SONG “BLACK AND BLUE” AS WELL AS A COVER OF “NAZI PUNKS F*CK OFF” BY THE DEAD KENNEDYS. WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE DONATIONS TO “OFFICIAL GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL FUND” ON GOFUNDME, AND PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION “JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD” ON CHANGE.ORG.

tHEY ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REGISTER AND VOTE IN ALL ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY LOCALLY WHERE YOU MAKE THE LARGEST IMPACT ON CHANGE IN OUR POLICE AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS. SYSTEMS CAN BE CHANGED THROUGH VOTING, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS SO YOU CAN ELECT PEOPLE WHO SHARE YOUR POINTS OF VIEW. WE MUST VOTE OUT SYSTEMIC RACISM. HTTPS://WWW.HEADCOUNT.ORG/REGISTERTOVOTE/

“LET’S ALL UNITE TO FIGHT RACISM PEACEFULLY AND INTELLIGENTLY.  NAZIS, RACISTS, WHITE SUPREMACISTS AND FASCISTS, YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS IN OUR AMAZING CITY.  TO THE REST OF YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, LOVE FROM MINNEAPOLIS, MN!”

#BLACKLIVESMATTER #JUSTICEFORFLOYD #BLACKANDBLUE

Soul Asylum – ‘Hurry Up And Wait’ (Blue Elan Records)

Soul Asylum – ‘Hurry Up And Wait’ (Blue Elan Records)

Minneapolis favourites Soul Asylum return with their 13th studio album, and their first since 2016’s ‘Change of Fortune’. The new album ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ was preceded by the single ‘If I Told You’, which gave a hint that Asylum fans could expect the band to return with their trademark romanticism, with melodies as delicate as ever, flowing in the line with Pirner’s vulnerable vocal delivery. While the ‘Change of Fortune’ album was a mixed bag, the new single ‘If I Told You’ was already perhaps a better song than anything from that album, up there with ‘Misery’ in terms of Soul Asylum ballads.

A good omen then for the new album, which was finally released 17 April 2020. And fans won’t be disappointed. Whereas ‘Change of Fortune’ was perhaps at times a little overblown and a little overproduced, ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ is more direct and earnest, following more in the footsteps of the inspiring ‘Delayed Reaction’ from 2012. The sound is instantly recognisable, but as with most later Asylum stuff, it’s more explorative in its sound, demonstrating Pirner’s expert song writing skills which have been present at least since the early days.

The album opens with the strong riffing of the aptly named ‘The Beginning’ before the song almost immediately swings into familiar territory, full of sweet melodies and catchy hooks. Going straight into the superb ‘If I Told You’, this is the Soul Asylum that fans have come to love. This of course permeates throughout the album with songs such as ‘Make Her Laugh’, and ‘Social Butterfly’, but there is enough variety on this album though to keep it interesting at every turn. The Slade-esque stomp of ‘Got it Pretty Good’ is a fine upbeat number, whereas ‘Dead Letter’ takes a decidedly folky turn. There’s also a lot of rock on this album, from the bluesy romp of ‘Landmines’ to the harder ‘Hopped up Feelin’’.

Every song on the album is a strong as the last, and the variety is refreshing. Less polished than ‘Change of Fortune’ and more consistent than ‘Delayed Reaction’, the record is certainly the best album since ‘The Silver Lining’, and maybe even before. For Asylum fans, ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ will definitely rank alongside their best.

Buy ‘Hurry Up And Wait’ Here

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Author: Craggy Collyde