The Pleasure EP by Semisonic is a fascinating look at one of the current music scene's best bands in its formative stages. Only seven of the fourteen tracks are actual songs, the other seven being bits and pieces of conversation and noise, but the music that is there is quite good. The first two songs, "The Prize" and "Brand New Baby", sound a little weak compared to their professionally produced versions on Semisonic's debut album "Great Divide", but the others are extremely well done and sound surprisingly clean for demos. Standouts are the energetic "Sculpture Garden" and the Munson-sung "Star".

I always liked Pleasure better than Feeling Strangely Fine or All About Chemistry. It manages to capture a little of the indie feeling without losing developed sound production, and fans of melodic indie will really like this. Above all, the songwriting is just great. The first six tracks are all terrific, but my favorites would have to be Wishing Well, Star, and above all Sculpture Garden. The guitar work is fantastic, and the chords are creative and thoughtful without being painful. Buy this, and while you're at it go buy Great Divide too.

The songs I've listened to on this CD so far have been really good! I, personally, think that Star is a great song having lyrics like "I wandered in the moonlight, A ghost without a friend" and other lyrics that seem to greatly stick out to me. Although I've always been a big Semisonic fan, I really suggest this CD! It's a good one!

Having listened to the tracks previewed on this site and reading the glowing reviews I was really looking forward to getting this CD. Alas when I got it I found out the the bonus tracks are just soundbites and for $, I think this CD is well over priced. Don't get me wrong, some of the songs are excellent, especially Sculpture Garden, but it's certainly been badly represented on this site.

I bought Feeling Strangely Fine before I bought Great Divide and Pleasure. But when I got Pleasure, I listened to track #6 for hours and hours on end! Some of the songs are on Great Divide, but the songs that aren't are superb. If you are a big fan, go out and buy this cd!!