Pleasure EP

Released in late 1995, the Pleasure EP serves as the debut statement for Semisonic following the dissolution of Trip Shakespeare. While the band would later achieve global fame with 'Great Divide' and 'Feeling Strangely Normal', this EP showcases a raw, more guitar-centric side of Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter. Recorded before they fully embraced the 'piano-pop' label, the tracks here lean into the alternative rock tropes of the mid-90s, featuring heavier distortion and a more 'indie' production aesthetic. The EP is notable for its structure, featuring six core songs followed by a series of 'Shuffle Fragments' and brief interludes that suggest a band interested in the deconstruction of the album format. AllMusic and other critics have noted it as a strong introduction that highlighted Wilson's burgeoning songwriting prowess while maintaining a gritty edge that would largely disappear by their sophomore effort. It remains a cult favorite for its unpolished charm and its bridge between the art-rock of Trip Shakespeare and the polished pop of Semisonic's peak years.