Soul Asylum – While You Were Out LP

Description

For a band who seemed like goof-offs in their earliest incarnation,Soul Asylumhad a pretty impressive work ethic, andWhile You Were Outwas the second album they released in 1986, arriving not quite 11 months afterMade to Be Broken.While You Were Outwasn’t the dramatic, creative leap forward thatMade to Be Brokenrepresented over their debut, 1984’sSay What You Will Everything Can Happen, but it certainly showed they were headed in the right direction, and it was the strongest of the three long players they cut for the Minneapolis-based Twin/Tone label. For sheer energy,Soul Asylumrarely sounded as sharp and fully engaged as they did onWhile You Were Out;Dan MurphyandDave Pirner‘s guitars were locked in tight and generated an impressive level of firepower that fused melody with crushing attack, and drummerGrant Youngand bassistKarl Muellerwere at the top of their game, giving the music a strong, roiling bottom end that gave the music a firm foundation while pushing it forward at the same time. The mix doesn’t always favorPirner‘s lyrics, but his vocals were clearly growing in strength and confidence, confirming his rock star potential, and producerChris Osgoodand engineerSteve Fjelstadmay have lackedBob Mould‘s name recognition (theHsker Dco-founder was at the controls forSoul Asylum‘s first two albums), but they gave the recordings a no-nonsense power and clarity that fit them just right. 1988’sHang Timewould moveSoul Asylumup to a major label and it’s arguably the band’s finest hour, but in many respects,While You Were Outsounds like a dry run for that triumph — there’s a bit less focus and a little more slop than necessary, butWhile You Were Outleft no doubt that there were few bands in the American underground who could match them. -All Music Guide