So that sound like a lot of hard work doesn't it? You would suppose the guys would want a break after all that as well as touring, right? But not our Danny-Boy. Shortly after they finished touring, Dan phoned up the guys and said he had some new material, some of which would eventually become Closing Time and California. So they got together and after a while, had a good 60 songs written between them, more than enough material to start a new record, which is exactly what they did. However, this time they decided that they would take their time and do it their way and that it would have a "its done when its done" emphasis.
It was about this time that The Seedy Underbelly (a local recording studio), was finished, and the guys decided to make full use of it. They flew in Nick Launay to produce the album, and after all the songs were recorded, flew themselves to California to mix it in Bob Clearmountain's studio. Feeling Strangely Fine was born.
But no, it doesn't stop there! After the success of Feeling Strangely Fine, Dan Wilson decided that he had a newer grand vision, and that he wanted to make some songs which would be cool to play in the big stadiums they were now able to pack to full capacity. As Jake Slichter says "That’s Dan’s approach: wait until we learn how to do one thing really well and then take things in a completely different direction". And that is exactly what they did. And slowly too. The guys themselves admit that because they had decided to produce this album themselves and given MCA the same "it's done then it's done" line like on FSF, that they did become a bit lazy without anyone pushing them onwards. Yet, All About Chemistry miraculously made it to the shelves in early 2001 and made it to No.13 in the UK charts. The album itself is the one which most vividly shows the guys musical talents, with John playing trombone on Act Naturally and Chemistry as well as his usual bass (not at the same time, although I'm sure he could if he tried), and Jake conducting the string section on many of the songs.
Now all we need do is wait another 3 years before the next album! |
