Semisonic: Dan Wilson (vocals, guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Moog synthesizer, loops); John Munson (vocals, guitar, piano, Moog synthesizer, bass, loops); Jake Slichter (vocals, Fender Rhodes & Wurlitzer pianos, Mellotron, drums, loops).

Additional personnel: Matt Wilson (guitar); Bruce Allard, Mary Bahr, Carolyn Bulay, Troy Gardner, Josh Koestenbaum.

Recorded at Seedy Underbelly, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Closing Time" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

Personnel: John Munson (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, wah-wah guitar); Dan Wilson (vocals, guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Jacob Slichter (vocals, piano, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, drums); Matt Wilson (guitar); Carolyn Boulay, Mary Bahr, Joshua Koestenbaum, Troy Gardner, Bruce Allard (strings).

Audio Mixers: Jack Joseph Puig; Jim Champagne; Ryan Freeland; Bob Clearmountain.

Recording information: Seedy Underbelly, Minneapolis, MN.

Arranger: Jacob Slichter.

Semisonic likes to craft happy, mid-tempo distorto-pop songs. Fear not, however--homogeneity rears not its bland face. While acoustic guitar is present throughout, this power trio is adept at varying its textures; Moog, wah-wah guitar and a pretty string section make a happy marriage here. In his lower range, lead vocalist/guitarist Dan Wilson adds a Dave Matthews-esque flavor, while higher up one hears echoes of Bono and Elton John. His guitar lines are simple and evocative, yet reinforced with enough overdrive to feel naughty. "Never You Mind" opens with piano reminiscent of Beatles rompers like "Lady Madonna," generously lacquered with trippy synth whistles and bubbles. The infectious guitar riff on "California" (that's Ca-li-forn-Eye-ah) is a welcome companion to a song about home and volcanoes. Brimming with original popcraft, FEELING STRANGELY FINE is true to its title, rising above its plaintive undertone with a bittersweet sense of wonder.

Entertainment Weekly (4/10/98, p.67) - "File this quirky second release from the feel-good Minneapolis trio under `alt-pop,' alongside Ben Folds Five. FEELING's emphasis is on well-crafted songs: sweetly hummable melodies, carefully layered instrumental polish, and wise-guy lyrics about love that roam from Spock to Shakespeare..." - Rating: B

Q (12/99, p.128) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...a creative quantum leap, 12 evocative, spectral minor-key guitar anthems which are clearly on more than nodding terms with R.E.M. but also reminiscent of Replacements....excellent."