Feeling Strangely Fine

Untitled

Feeling Strangely Fine (1998) is the follow up by Semisonic to 1996's Great Divide recorded at Seedy Underbelly Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band had over 60 new songs in mind as they went into the recording process and had three specific requirements when they decided they wanted to record a new album. First, they didn't want to record any demotapes beyond simple guitar and vocal basement sketches meaning the album versions would be the first band recordings of the songs. Second, they wanted no deadline for the finished masters. Third, the trio wanted to create tracks for the album in various hi- and lo-tech settings around Minneapolis, and use their computers to meld the different sounds together. Nick Launay was brought in to produce the album and the band recorded twenty songs over the course of four months. They pared those down to sixteen, mixed them, and used the best twelve for the finished record.[1]

Track listing

All tracks by Dan Wilson unless otherwise noted.

1. "Closing Time" – 4:33
   • piano - John
   • strings arranged and conducted by Jake
2. "Singing in My Sleep" – 4:30
   • Wurlitzer piano - Jake
   • additional guitar - John
3. "Made to Last" – 5:02
   • Rhodes piano - Jake
   • piano - Dan
4. "Never You Mind" (Wilson, Jacob Slichter) – 4:24
   • piano, synth whistle - Dan
   • trembly guitar - John
   • lead guitar - Matt Wilson
5. "Secret Smile" – 4:39
   • Rhodes piano - Dan
   • Moog - John
   • strings & flutes arranged by Dan and Jake, conducted by Jake
6. "DND" – 4:11
   • loops - Dan
   • slide guitar solo - John
   • strings arranged by Dan, conducted by Jake
7. "Completely Pleased" – 3:19
   • piano - Dan
   • Moog - John
8. "This Will Be My Year" (Slichter) – 4:32
   • piano - Jake
   • stereo Moogs - Jake and John
9. "All Worked Out" – 2:52
   • piano - Jake
10. "California" – 5:29
    • drive-by Moog bass - John
    • earthquake and volcano loops - Johnand Jake
11. "She Spreads Her Wings" (John Munson) – 3:06
    • lead vocals, all guitars - John
    • piano, mellotron - Jake
12. "Gone to the Movies" – 3:52
    • wah wah guitar - John
    • string quartet arranged and conducted by Jake

Personnel

• Dan Wilson – Vocals, Guitar, Piano, String Arrangement, Rhodes, Synth Whistle, Loops, Flute Arrangement
• John Munson – Bass, Vocals, Guitar, Moog, Slide Guitar, Moog Bass, Piano, Loops
• Jacob Slichter – Drums, Vocals, Conducting, Piano, String Arrangement, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, Moog, Loops, Flute Arrangement

Additional personnel

• Matt Wilson – Lead Guitar
• Bruce Allard – Strings
• Mary Bahr – Strings
• Carolyn Boulay – Strings
• Troy Gardner – Strings
• Josh Koestenbaum – Strings

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1998	The Billboard 200	43

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1998	"Closing Time"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	1
1998	"Closing Time"	Billboard Adult Top 40	4
1998	"Singing in My Sleep"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	11
1999	"Secret Smile"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	21
1999	"Secret Smile"	Billboard Adult Top 40	35

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – USA	Gold	July 2 1998
RIAA – USA	Platinum	March 24 1999