Candy from a Stranger

Candy from a Stranger is Soul Asylum's eighth studio album. It was released on May 12, 1998 (see 1998 in music). It follows 1995's Let Your Dim Light Shine.

Candy from a Stranger
Studio album by Soul Asylum
Released	May 12, 1998
Recorded	1997–1998
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	45:17
Label	Columbia
Producer	Chris Kimsey
Soul Asylum chronology
Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995) Candy from a Stranger (1998) Black Gold: The Best of Soul Asylum (2000)
Singles from Candy from a Stranger
"I Will Still Be Laughing" Released: 1998 "Close" Released: 1998

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	[2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B−[4]
Pitchfork	2.5/10[5]
NME	5/10[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
Spin	5/10[8]

The band had originally planned to release an album entitled Creatures of Habit produced by Matt Hyde. Columbia Records did not approve of the recordings and shelved the album a few weeks before it was supposed to be released. The band re-entered the studio, this time with British producer Chris Kimsey, and emerged with Candy from a Stranger. Most of the songs featured were previously recorded during the Creatures of Habit sessions. Drummer Sterling Campbell left the band after the album was completed.

"I Will Still Be Laughing" achieved fame after it was featured in the closing credits of the 1998 comedy BASEketball. It is also the band's last single to date to appear on Billboard's Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts.

Track listing

All songs written by Dave Pirner except as noted.

1. "Creatures of Habit" – 3:23
2. "I Will Still Be Laughing" – 3:46
3. "Close" – 4:33
4. "See You Later" – 4:46
5. "No Time for Waiting" – 3:16
6. "Blood into Wine" (Dan Murphy, Elizabeth Herman) – 4:03
7. "Lies of Hate" (Dave Pirner, Sterling Campbell) – 4:39
8. "Draggin' the Lake" – 3:38
9. "New York Blackout" – 4:05
10. "The Game" – 4:27
11. "Cradle Chain" – 4:45
12. "Losin' It" (bonus track on the Japanese edition)

Singles

1. "I Will Still Be Laughing"
2. "Close"

^[9]

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
1998	The Billboard 200	121

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1998	"I Will Still Be Laughing"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	23
1998	"I Will Still Be Laughing"	Modern Rock Tracks	24

Band members

• Dave Pirner – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Dan Murphy – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Karl Mueller – bass
• Sterling Campbell – drums

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Candy from a Stranger - Soul Asylum". AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
2. Knopper, Steve (April 17, 1998). "Soul Asylum Candy from a Stranger (Columbia)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 1, 2018.^{[dead link]}
3. Christgau, Robert (October 15, 2000). "Soul Asylum". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 9780312245603.
4. Sinclair, Tom (May 15, 1998). "Candy From a Stranger". Entertainment Weekly.
5. Moll, Susan. "Soul Asylum: Candy From A Stranger: Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000.
6. Goldsmith, Mike. "Soul Asylum: Candy From A Stranger". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000.
7. Puterbaugh, Parke (May 6, 1998). "Soul Asylum: Candy From A Stranger". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
8. Zacharek, Stephanie (July 1998). "Soul Asylum: Candy From a Stranger". Spin. SPIN Media LLC. p. 129.
9. "Close | EnterTheSoulAsylum.com". enterthesoulasylum.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.