SOUL ASYLUM - Hang Time

Artist: Soul Asylum
Album: Hang Time
Year: 1988
Genre: Modern Rock

Soul Asylum made an intentional effort to be famous, radio friendly, MTV darlings during the 90s.  The result of that effort swallowed the once formidable and passionate band they were previously.  The decline started with their second major label release, And The Horse They Rode In On, and rapidly spiraled down the rabbit hole of the safe and tame with each subsequent release.  In the early 80s, Soul Asylum played fervent, erratic modern rock, much like their neighborhood pals The Replacements and Husker Du, but they were more willing to experiment and take musical risks than their local counterparts.  I never took the opportunity to see them in what I consider their heyday, but when people speak of their first recordings, it always seems to be followed with how they were the best live act around.  I believe it.  The energy they created on their first five releases absolutely swells out of the speakers.  Their sixth release, the major label debut Hang Time, was a perfect culmination of youthful fury and matured songwriting.  This album truly solidifies early Soul Asylum as one of the best in modern rock.

Soul Asylum touched upon so many different musical elements with this record as they took on the daunting task of infusing various genres in their unique, almost abnormal, alt-rock approach.  The further one dives in, it becomes apparent that musical rules didn’t exist for Soul Asylum since smatterings of pop, folk, sludge, punk, noise and rock are all present.  The pacing of Hang Time is pushy and irrational.  Even after all these years of listening to this record over and over, the sonic maze that is the album order continues to feel random and exciting.  Yet it truly reflects the attitude of 1988 Soul Asylum, which was that they didn’t have a care in the world, they played for themselves, and if people came along for the ride, so be it.  In that, lies the off-kilter beauty of this recording.  You want noise induced grunge? Listen to “Ode.”  Depressing ballad?  Listen to “Endless Farewell.”  A folk tune you can hum along with?  Listen to “Twiddly Dee.”  Punk fury?  Then “Jack Of All Trades” is for you.  No matter how noisy, grimy or schizophrenic “Hang Time” gets, there is always substance to grasp on to that drags you into their world.  The evident strength of the album is their melodic style, with “Sometime To Return” being the pinnacle of the band’s all-time songwriting achievements.  It’s a song I could listen to and enjoy every day.  Their pop heart settles in well with their eclectic, capricious nature.  Although Soul Asylum enjoyed world-wide success four years later, this record deserved wide notoriety.  I believe the world wasn’t ready for it as it predated the mammoth alternative wave that was going to take over commercial music in a few short years after.  If you were at all enthralled by the music that was happening in the nineties, I strenuously encourage you to give Hang Time a chance.

Listen to "Sometime To Return" here.