Candy From a Stranger
Candy from a Strangerhas a sleek, well-crafted, "classic  alternative" sound, and it features some gently sculpted textures--a winsome  mandolin in "Close," a slippery Morricone guitarscape in "Cradle  Chain." But even whenCandy’s rocking hard, it’s tasteful and nearly  toothless. Soul Asylum just sound hopelessly, if pleasantly, retrograde. --SpinA sampling of invigorating power-pop anthems, jangly, falling-in-and-out-of-love songs and edgy ballads,Candyfinds Pirner ... at his pop music best. The 34-year-old rocker sounds, in turn, optimistic, melancholy and inspired....   --PeopleAcoustic guitars, heart-on-sleeve lyrics, world-weary singing--six years after their big commercial breakthrough, these mellowed-out punks ... should be ingested sparingly. --Entertainment Weekly