What should an "alternative" band do if it gets massively successful? Scare off the fans that they never wanted by making a real rock album, in the R.E.M. way? Or choose the most drastic Kurt Cobain way, and go straight to Nirvana? Soul Asylum found yet another option: they just act as if Grave Dancers Union and their huge hit "Runaway Train" didn't happen, and deliver a new album that's a logical sequel to their previous work.
Let Your Dim Light Shine starts with "Misery", the first single that's received massive airplay all around the globe. Certainly a great song, with the wonderfully depressive lyrics "they say misery loves company, we could start a company and make misery", culminating is Pirner's near falsetto voice repeating "frustrated incorporated" ad infinitum.
Besides this standout track, there's a well assorted collection of different songs. Some harder rock songs ("Shut Down", "Just Like Anyone"), alternated with slow ballads ("Eyes Of A Child", "To My Own Devices") that are often hard on the border of cheesiness. These ballads also take up the flirt with country that they tried on earlier albums; "Promises Broken" could have been an Eagles song. While an occasional slow song is certainly nice, and they have a knack for beautiful melodies, they overdo it somewhat on this album as there are 5 or 6 of them. More convincing are the songs that have both slow and fast parts, sometimes with a noticeable blues feel, where they manage to develop their unique kind of energy. Songs of this category are "Bittersweetheart" and "Strings Of Pearls"; both are potential singles, the latter also has really wonderful lyrics.
Most of the lyrics are quite pessimistic and negative. This is in one way surprising; you could think that being a successful musician and having star actress Winona Ryder as a girlfriend would make David Pirner the happiest person on the planet. On the other hand these lyrics fit the music, so we can be glad that Pirner can draw a border between private life and artistic output.
It's not difficult to predict that this album will sell less than the exceptional Grave Dancers Union. There's still no reason to be disappointed. Let Your Dim Light Shine is a very good album, even if it seems to lack a clear concept and is almost too variable. Soul Asylum are back to actual size, a position where they can feel comfortable, and they're here to stay.
