Spotlight Reviews from Billboard.com

RECOMMENDED

SOUL ASYLUM

Candy From A Stranger

SPOTLIGHT

SOUL ASYLUM / Candy From A Stranger

Producer(s): Chris Kimsey

Columbia 67618

POP

Originally reviewed for week ending 5/16/98

The follow-up to its flawless 1995 opus, "Let Your Dim

Light Shine" - which fell short of its potential by

"only" going platinum - Soul Asylum's "Candy From A

Stranger" will hit the band's fans where they live

while possibly opening new horizons for the Minneapolis

quartet. From the energetic first single, "I Will Still

Be Laughing," and the similarly styled "Creatures Of

Habit" to the retro-pop of "No Time For Waiting," the

bluesiness of the ballad "Blood Into Wine," and the

catchiness of the rollicking "New York Blackout," the

album spotlights front man Dave Pirner's gift for

insightful words, memorable melodies, and passionate

performances. A must for mainstream rock radio, "Candy

From A Stranger" cannot be ruled out at modern rock,

triple-A, college, and pop outlets.