I first heard Semisonic through a mix tape given to me 4 years ago, and the one song that always stood out to me was 'Singing In My Sleep.' It took me a while to find this album, and when I did, it did not leave my CD player for a very long time. It is an amazing piece of rock genius by the rock genius himself, Dan Wilson. Every song on this album is a standout, especially 'Singing in My Sleep,' 'Never You Mind,' 'Secret Smile,' and 'California'(my favorite song right now off this album.) I love this album so much. It has gotten me through many tough times and has helped me realize the promise of a better day. I have even convinced my friends to love this album. I am always going to love it and listen to it, and it really is shrineworthy, in a sense. Semisonic is a shrineworthy band. Pay homage.

I have owned this album since it came out, and I still listen to it regularly. This has to be one of the best purchases I have ever made, not to mention one of the most influential in my life. Whatever mood I'm in, this CD has something to offer for me. Semisonic is easily one of my favorite bands of all time, and I recommend them to anyone who likes alternative rock, '90s music, or just music in general. Check out their other albums, which don't quite live up to the standard set by Feeling Strangely Fine, but are quite good too.

When I think of seriously underrated bands, Semisonic always comes to mind. Most people will only remember them as the band that sang "Closing Time", and will never bother to purchase the album, thus missing out on some of the greatest music out there. I honestly feel sad when I listen to energetic and melodic masterpieces like "Never Your Mind", brief but soaring songs like "All Worked Out" and soft, cute, sexy songs like "Completely Pleased." I feel sad for those that are missing out. It's a shame.

What's interesting is that the weakest track on this album is probably "Closing Time." It's good, but it's by no means the best. Every other track is stellar (with the exceptions being "DND" and "Secret Smile" - but even those are good.)

I bought this album when I was in middle school - I'm about to be a freshman in college and I still play this album constantly - it's consistantly brilliant and worth every cent.

Semisonic is a rare band doing something different in the era of modern generic rock, although you might not know it just from hearing Closing Time (a good song in its own right, but not ground-breaking). The song-writing here is far more complex than you would expect and the instrumentation is fresh on virtually every track. As a result, this album grows quite nicely on you. It also occupies a very different niche from their debut, Great Divide, which is a fantastic album that was critically acclaimed but a commercial failure; FSF is less electric and raucous, but it finds a very satisfying intimacy after a few listens. It is no coincidence that the most thoughtful (and recent) reviews are overwhelmingly positive; this is a great album and will grow on you.

Remember 1998? Remember "Closing Time"? What an amazing song. Now do you remember the band that made it? Or the title of the album that it was on? Or any of the band's other songs? Probably not. Semisonic became one of the better one-hit-wonders of the 90s with this single amazing track, but never got the attention they truly deserved.

Feeling strangely fine starts you up right away with the track you came for, somewhat ironically, "closing time" (5/5) is the first track on the album and gives you a feeling, like the album suggests, of "feeling strangely fine." But the next song, "singing in my sleep," (5/5) a catchy little rock diddy gives of a different sound to Semisonic that the prior song doesn't reveal. Next, "made to last"(4/5) brings about a much more dreary side to Semisonic, not bad at all, but not as uplifting as the previous or next song. "Never you mind," (5/5) another really, really catchy track is that next track and keeps the momentum of the album from dying a slow horrible death. Keeping the momentum of a good album alive, the next song, another good song about a "secret smile" (4/5) is not as good as the prior track but leads to the irresistible acoustic track "DND." (5/5) Easily one of the best tracks on the album with some song writing most would never think of. Can it get any better from here? Rather than die down with a weak second half, the next track, "completely pleased," (5/5) in my opinion, presents an even better song. If you're not "feeling strangely fine" at this point their may be something wrong with you. Thus far each song has been generally really good. "This will be my year" continues the trend (4/5). "All worked out," (4/5) another good track is pretty weak lyrically, but the music makes up for it. The next track "California" (3/5) is not their best song musically, but is much better lyrically than some of their previous songs. "She spreads her wings," (3/5) is another good acoustic, but seems to drag on at just 3 minutes and six seconds, which is never a very good thing. Finally, as the album seems to have worn a little thin and your starting to lose the strangely fine feeling, Semisonic will blow you away with the final song, another acoustic, "gone to the movies." (5/5) This very well could be the best song on the album and saves the album from dying out towards the end. Incredible track

Although it may not be the best album of the 90s, it is undeniably a very good one. It tends to be weak lyrically, but the singing itself and the music generally works so well that it is more than still good. This album has aged very well and fans of a more mellow rock music will love this album. Fans of the song "closing time" will definitely get a nostalgic kick from the song, but will get a more rewarding surprise in finding how good the band and the album really is.