KARL MUELLER, a late R.I.P.

I was sad to hear about Karl Mueller's death from throat cancer earlier last week. Mueller was the bassist for Soul Asylum, one of the bands me and my small group of high school friends held dear to our hearts for those years. While the success of the radio friendly "GRAVE DANCER'S UNION" album put them in the limelight, we all shared a fondness for two of the band's earlier albums, "...AND THE HORSE THEY RODE IN ON" and "HANG TIME."

Mueller, in the midst of his throat cancer treatments, had rejoined the band and played bass on their new album, which has yet to find a record label. Say what you will about their later output, but those early records were great, Replacements-style bar rock. And they were a hell of a live band, as well. I only got to see them once, in support of G.D.U. with the Screaming Trees and... dear god... the Spin Doctors as headliners. My friends and I left after the Trees and Soul Asylum sets, which always makes me proud.

In memory of Karl, here are a few tracks from those albums.

HANG TIME
"Cartoon"
"Marionette"

...AND THE HORSE THEY RODE IN ON
"We 3"
"Spinnin'"


For more on Soul Asylum and Karl Mueller:

- The Minneapolis Star Tribune breaks the news
- Send memorials to The Karl Fund
- Soul Asylum at Sony Music Store