Semisonic Little Bit of Sun LP

With Little Bit of Sun, Semisonic's first full-length album in more than 20 years, there's plenty to be optimistic about. Recorded in the band's native Minneapolis and featuring appearances from special guests including Jason Isbell and Jim James, the collection offers a deeply moving, sincere reflection on growth, gratitude, and commitment in the face of change and uncertainty. The songs walk a tightrope between raw energy and tender beauty here, balancing power pop muscle with acoustic intimacy, and bassist John Munson and drummer Jacob Slichter's performances are finely tuned to match, infusing Wilson's bright, buoyant melodies with touches of melancholy and darkness that perpetually haunt the periphery. While it would be easy for a band like Semisonic to revel in nostalgia, Little Bit of Sun instead looks to the past with appreciation rather than longing, pairing a profound thankfulness for the journey with an infectious excitement for all that's still to come.