All About Chemistry

All About Chemistry is the Minneapolis trio, Semisonic's new alternative pop offering. Since their last album Feeling Strangely Fine they've gone from indie underdogs to platinum-selling stars and this album is full of diet rock tunes, most of which are easy listening and agreeable.

'Get A Grip' is undeniably a pleasant enough pop song with the same sort of sing-a-long style that dominated Feeling Strangely Fine. 'Chemistry' is their first single from this album and we hear vocalist Wilson sing of his "experimentation… with fine women with nothin but good intentions". It's hard to tell how seriously the band take themselves with pop tunes like these which differ quite strongly from much more sensitive songs, like 'Act Naturally', 'She's Got My Number' and '`I Wish'.

The album includes Carole King's appearance in 'One True Love' (which she also co-wrote) and Munson, the band's bass player, steps up to sing lead vocals on 'Who's Stopping You'. These are very welcome breaks from Wilson's often forced and monotone voice.

Wilson's lyrics are bittersweet and relatively impressive when he hits the spot, which is less than most of the time and his delivery can lack passion in places.

While most of these songs are far too formulaic to be very interesting they remain for the most part sweetly melodic and accomplished. It is rock at its most diluted, but would anyone rather see Steps climb the charts over these guys?