Our top 10 Soul Asylum songs introduce us to a Grammy award-winning band reputable for its grunge, country rock, and alternative rock music. The band was in Minneapolis in 1981 with a lineup fronted by singer-songwriter and producer Dave Pirner. Soul Asylum recorded three studio albums with Twin/Tone Records and the other two with A&M Records. With the five albums, the band achieved little success in the then competitive rock music industry. The band has gone through tough times, including poor sales at the beginning of its career and Dave Pirner’s hearing problems. At some point, Soul Asylum thought of disbanding, but this proved hard for Dave Pirner felt that the band was destined for success.
However, the 1990s brought the band to some new height in its career, achieving critical acclaim, thanks to the band’s album Grave Dancers Union. Released in 1992, the album was rated triple-platinum, featuring one of the band’s greatest hits, “Runaway Train.” Soul Asylum played this song at President Bill Clinton’s at his inauguration in early 1993. Grave Dancers Union set the pace for other Soul Asylum’s releases helping the band’s next album Let Your Dim Light Shine score a platinum record. Rising from dust to glory didn’t come without bruising the band, having it lose all its original members but Dave Pirner. While Dan Murphy and Pat Morley might have left Soul Asylum, Karl Mueller was dragged from the band by cancer. The band organized a benefit concert on Mueller’s behalf to save his life, but cancer proved stronger, having him die in 2005, a year after his diagnosis. Soul Asylum has seen better days having the band play sold-out shows and earning global recognition for their impact on alternative rock. Here are the top 10 Soul Asylum songs sampled from the band’s twelve studio albums.
#10 – Heavy Rotation
Ushering us to the top 10 Soul Asylum songs is the ballad “Heavy Rotation” from the band’s album Hang Time. “Heavy Rotation” is a chaotic rocker that features some raw energy from the band. Frontman Dave Pirner penned the song whose lyrics allude to remaining true to oneself while handling life pressures. The song’s title is an industry term that means a song that gets a lot of airtime. However, Pirner rebelled against demands for a hit since the band was on the brink of stardom and being hard-pressed to reach those levels.
#9 – Can’t Even Tell
“Can’t Even Tell” is a soundtrack song to the 1994 movie Clerks. Soul Asylum bagged the chance to deliver the soundtrack for the movie and forged a friendship with director Kevin Smith. Later on, their song “We 3” was used for Kevin Smith’s film Chasing Amy, while “Misery” was used for the sequel Clerks II. The song’s video featured Clerks’ movie characters, Silent Bob and Jay.
#8 – Cartoon
The song is best known for its self-denigration and alienation themes. Released on the band’s album Hang Time, “Cartoon” is a Dan Murphy tune whose lyrics are credited to the Soul Asylum’s principal songwriter Dave Pirner. Soul Asylum received quite some attention thanks to the dual lead vocal from Dan and Dave, who delivered the song in a thick and enraged sound.
#7 – Promises Broken (Remix)
After Soul Asylum achieved commercial success with the album Grave Dancers Union, the band picked up momentum to release even greater songs for the next album, Let Your Dim Light Shine. “Promises Broken” is one of the songs from the album that has proved too strong not to list in our top 10 Soul Asylum songs. The song is one of the most underrated releases from Soul Asylum. You ought to love the song’s calm but melodic tune.
#6 – Just Like Anyone
Number six on our top 10 Soul Asylum songs is “Just Like Anyone.” The song is also featured on the band’s 1995 album Let Your Dim Light Shine, with its lyrics penned by lead vocalist Dave Pirner. Thanks to its sublime composition, the song entered singles charts in the UK and Canada while making it to the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song received quite some exposure on MTV, reaching the most-played chart on the network. “Just Like Anyone” peaked at number fifty-two on the UK Singles Chart.
#5 – Without a Trace
Soul Asylum was one of the most hardworking bands in the late 1980s, and the band’s efforts paid off with its release of the album Grave Dancers Union. “Without a Trace” is the default title song of Grave Dancers Union, having it feature the lyrics that had the album given that name. Frontman Dave Pirner dedicated the song to the memory of former band member Karl Mueller who succumbed to cancer after a year after diagnosis.
#4 – Black Gold
“Black Gold” is a war-themed ballad released on the band’s most successful album Grave Dancers Union. The title “Black Gold” means oil, with the song’s lyrics alluding to the first Gulf War. Soul Asylum used the lyric “Two boys on a playground” metaphorically to refer to Iraq and the USA. While political songs might usually have a short shelf life, “Black Gold” has beaten all odds to remain in the band’s setlist thanks to its relevance to date. The song peaked at number twenty-six on the UK Singles Chart.
#3 – Somebody to Shove
Written by frontman Dave Pirner, “Somebody to Shove” is yet another ballad featured on the band’s album Grave Dancers Union. Featured as the first song of the album, “Somebody to Shove” starts with a fast and strong pace making it an absolute upbeat rocker. The song peaked at number one on the US Alternative Airplay Chart.
#2 – Misery
“Misery” is Soul Asylum’s second-biggest success having it peak at number one and two on the US Alternative Rock and Mainstream Rock Chart, respectively. Featured on the band’s album Let Your Dim Light Shine, the song was written by Dave Pirner to express his frustration with the aftermath of the band’s newfound success. The song was later used by Kevin Smith, a big fan of the band, for the film Clerks II.
#1 – Runaway Train
Number one on our top 10 Soul Asylum songs list is the ballad “Runaway Train” from the band’s album Grave Dancers Union. Written by the band’s frontman Dave Pirner, the song’s lyrics allude to depression. The song became the band’s first pop hit, changing the band’s fortunes after five albums of little commercial success. Its video was unique, featuring images of missing people, most of whom were young children and teenagers. “Runaway Train” peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
Feature Photo: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>, via Wikimedia Commons
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
