Editing Semisonic (section)

==History==
===Formation and debut album===
After the breakup of [[Trip Shakespeare]], Wilson and Munson joined up with drummer Slichter to form the band Pleasure in 1993.<ref name=":28">{{Cite web|title=Monday Night Live – Pleasure – 1993|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrZtjALMK1M|access-date=May 5, 2023|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> By 1995, they had changed their name to Semisonic. An EP, ''Pleasure'', was released that year on [[Boston]] indie label [[CherryDisc]], and the studio full-length ''[[Great Divide (Semisonic album)|Great Divide]]'' in 1996 on [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].

===Breakthrough and international success===
Semisonic's breakthrough came two years later in 1998 when their second album, ''[[Feeling Strangely Fine]]'', reached the Top 50 chart on the strength of the hit single "[[Closing Time (Semisonic song)|Closing Time]]", their biggest hit in the United States. During a 2008 performance at Harvard's Sanders Theatre, Wilson said that it was originally written about the birth of his first child.

Their international career also blossomed when another song from the album, "[[Secret Smile (Semisonic song)|Secret Smile]]", quickly became a UK radio favorite in the summer of 1999, eventually peaking at No.&nbsp;12 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=SEMISONIC {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5314/semisonic/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref>

===Third album and hiatus===
In early 2001, the band released its third album, ''[[All About Chemistry]],'' The single "Chemistry" was a mainstay overseas; however the album did not fare as well in the United States. Another song, "Over My Head", was used in the 2001 teen flick ''[[Summer Catch]]'', and Semisonic rode the wave touring various cities in and around the UK.
[[File:Semisonic.jpg|alt=The band onstage|thumb|right|Semisonic performing in a 2006 basement concert. L-R: Munson, Wilson, and Slichter]]

Wilson had spoken about doing more Semisonic music in the future but said, "The busy day-to-day life keeps pushing it further into the future." ''All About Chemistry'' would be their last studio release until reconvening for the ''[[You're Not Alone (Semisonic EP)|You're Not Alone]]'' EP which they put out in 2020.

===2017–2019===
[[File:Semisonic - First Avenue - Minneapolis - Feeling Strangely Fine (25225878488).jpg|alt=Munson playing bass and Wilson on guitar|thumb|Munson and Wilson onstage with Semisonic in 2017]]
To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of their first album, ''Great Divide'', the band reunited for a series of three shows in June 2017 – June 14 at a small club in St. Paul, and June 16–17 at First Avenue in Minneapolis. The band played Great Divide in its entirety.

In December 2017, the band played three more shows in the Twin Cities to commemorate the approaching 20th anniversary of their second album, Feeling Strangely Fine, performing the album in its entirety. In 2018, Feeling Strangely Fine was given a rerelease for the album's twentieth anniversary, including its first vinyl pressing. The anniversary edition included four songs not on the original album: "Long Way from Home", "I'm a Liar", "Beautiful Regret", and "Makin' a Plan".

In July 2019, Semisonic performed at Summerfest in Milwaukee and then at the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis. During their 2017–2019 shows, the band performed some new, previously unreleased songs, including "Basement Tapes", "All It Would Take", and "You're Not Alone"

===First Avenue===
[[File:Semisonic - First Avenue Star.jpg|thumb|Semisonic's star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub [[First Avenue (nightclub)|First Avenue]]]]The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the [[Minneapolis]] nightclub [[First Avenue (nightclub)|First Avenue]],<ref name="FirstAveStars">{{cite web |url=http://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |title=The Stars |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=First Avenue & 7th Street Entry |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418135117/https://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |url-status=dead }}</ref> recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.<ref name="StarTribune2019">{{cite news |last=Bream |first=Jon |url=https://www.startribune.com/10-things-you-ll-learn-about-first-avenue-in-new-minnesota-history-center-show/509374312/ |title=10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show |work=[[Star Tribune]] |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 3, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 }}</ref> Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis", according to journalist Steve Marsh.<ref name="MSPMag2019">{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Steve |url=http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/first-avenue-star-wall/ |title=First Avenue's Star Wall |work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 }}</ref> Wilson and Munson's previous group, [[Trip Shakespeare]], also has a star making them among the few musicians with multiple stars on the mural.

===2020–present===
On June 26, 2020, Semisonic released the single "You're Not Alone", their first new material in 19 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2089259/semisonic-youre-not-alone/music/|title=Semisonic – "You're Not Alone"|first=James|last=Rettig|publisher=[[Stereogum]]|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref> and later released the full ''You're Not Alone'' EP on September 18, 2020.

On January 27 and 28, 2023, the band played two shows at [[First Avenue (nightclub)|First Avenue]] to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the shows’ sponsor, Twin Cities public radio station The Current.<ref>{{cite web |title=Semisonic.com |url=https://semisonic.com/#appearances |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616155221/https://semisonic.com/#appearances |archive-date=2023-06-16 |language=en |date=21 January 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Semisonic supported [[Barenaked Ladies]] from June 2, 2023 through June 26, 2023 on the Last Summer on Earth 2023 tour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barenaked Ladies: Last Summer on Earth 2023 |url=https://www.barenakedladies.com/splash/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=www.barenakedladies.com}}</ref>

In the summer of 2023, the band also began releasing singles from its upcoming album, ''[[Little Bit of Sun]]''. On June 5, Semisonic released the singles “Little Bit of Sun” and “Grow Your Own.” <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-05 |title=Semisonic Share New Songs "Little Bit Of Sun" & "Grow Your Own": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2226032/semisonic-little-bit-of-sun-grow-your-own/music/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref> On August 1, another single, "The Rope,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=2023-08-01 |title=Re-Opening Time: Semisonic Plot First Album in Over 20 Years, 'Little Bit of Sun' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/semisonic-new-album-little-bit-of-sun-the-rope-1234798804/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> was released, along with a video<ref>{{Citation |title=Semisonic – The Rope |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jd9SLjkYsU |access-date=2023-11-22 |language=en}}</ref> for the song made by [[Phil Harder]].  On September 12, the band released “Out of the Dirt,”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=Semisonic & Jason Isbell Share New Song "Out Of The Dirt": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2235862/semisonic-out-of-the-dirt-feat-jason-isbell/music/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref> co-written by [[Lori McKenna]] and featuring [[Jason Isbell]] on guitar.

The full album of twelve songs, ''[[Little Bit of Sun]]'', was released on November 3, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valish |first=Frank |title=Little Bit of Sun |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/little_bit_of_sun_semisonic |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=www.undertheradarmag.com |language=en}}</ref>