SOUL ASYLUM
From Wall Of Sound:
Monday, March 23, 1998
 
Soul Asylum Previews Album, Prepares for Club Tour
 
South by Southwest in Austin went big-time rock and roll Thursday night as Soul Asylum—the only multimillion-selling band among more than four hundred playing during the five-day festival—previewed its new album to a shivering but enthusiastic crowd at an outdoor venue called Stubb's. Playing its second full-length concert with new drummer Chris Joiner, the group sounded tight and energetic as it plowed through a thirteen-song set that featured ten songs from Candy From a Stranger,
the forthcoming album slated to hit stores on May 12, as well as four older favorites—"Black Gold," "In the Air," "New World," and "Misery." nlk.jpg (9632 bytes)The new songs included the first single, "I Will Still Be Laughing,"
"Close," "New York Blackout," Cradle Chain," "Blood Into Wine," "Dragging the Lake," "Creatures of Habit," and "Lies of Hate." The group is in the midst of filming a video for "I Will Still Be Laughing."
After the show, bassist Karl Mueller said the band was happy with its performance. "It's been a long time since we've been able to actually play a show," he said. "It felt good up there. It's coming together.
There are some nuances and things that need to be worked out. It's in a way overwhelming; it's great to have this and it's great people show up, 'cause we have been away for awhile."
As for what we can expect from the album, Mueller says, "to me, it sounds really together, but not sterile. It's got almost a live vibe to it, but cleaned up a bit. By no means is it a Steely Dan record. There's
some great melodies, some great harmonies going on, a lot of interplay between voicing of the instrumentals and the vocals." Mueller said that after the album is released, the band will hit the road to play some of the major radio-station festivals as well as a short club tour.
—Gary Graff