*** Semisonic

FEELING STRANGELY FINE

(MCA)

Semisonic have a way of sneaking up on you. On '96's Great Divide, the Minneapolis trio fused a woozy after-show-breakfast-at-Denny's vibe with sparkling bursts of chorus-laden heartland pop that sounded at once familiar and distinctive. Although the rush isn't so immediate this time around -- the new disc opens with the mid-temp plaint "Closing Time" -- the rewards are there.

Pianos, strings, and looped guitars comfort the arid loneliness of Dan Wilson's voice, which is well suited to these songs about loneliness, restlessness, and emotional limbo. Even the infectious bash-and-pop of "This Will Be My Year" conceals a less certain sentiment, and the Ben Folds Five-ish bounce of "Never You Mind" feels like the denial that glosses over the way a troubled relationship is unraveling underneath. The songs' characters, who appear shaken and surprised by doubts and failures, are entirely recognizable, as is their plight. Sometimes the murky, messy realities of life sneak up on you too.

-- Jonathan Perry