I was a huge fan of Sister Soleil's first EP "Drown Me In You" so when I heard this album was coming out I was incredibly excited. Never had I heard an artist sound like this before. "Soularium" was not a disappointment. It still is an album a play regularly. I even have multiple copies and a few songs on vinyl. High points on this album were the re-do's of "Red","Chair" plus the industrial-esue track "Hit Me" and "Butterfly"(which actually had grow on me but in the end became a favorite). This album also features Peter Gabriel and Corey Taylor (Slipknot). Gabriel's track is a very inspirational balled type song while Taylor's track is almost campy and silly with Stella and Corey sing/screaming back and forth at each other. This album definitly is more dance and club friendly than "Drown Me In You" but it was a welcome change. I enjoyed "DMIY" a lot but also enjoyed hearing this side of Stella.

I anxiously awaited the release of this CD when it first came out because Sister Soleil was generating a lot of buzz where I live (Cleveland, Ohio). She was considered "someone to watch" for quite some time because she hadn't been signed to a major label and many found it quite admirable that she was holding out as long as she could until she found the right "fit". She was also developing a good reputation as a live performer. Until Soularium came out, the local college stations were playing "Red" and the first time I heard that song, I fell in love. So when Soularium finally came out, I ran out to buy it and needless to say I was not in the least bit disappointed! This whole CD is great, and I wasn't expecting the variety of different sounds, styles, and genres from pop to alternative to rock to industrial. Highlights for me are Red, Torch, Chair, Blind, Hit me, and Lounge Lizard.......although I like all the songs. When this CD came out my local alterative radio station was playing "Torch" and I just kept thinking, "There are so many great songs on this album that could be potential hit singles, I wonder what the next few singles are going to be?" and I also thought, "This band is going to be HUGE!!" I was fortunate to see her perform at the Grog Shop when she toured to support this album and it was AMAZING! She really gives 110 percent! Her voice is great live and the energy she gives shows how much she loves what she does and how much she wants to give back to her fans. So until the next Sister Soleil release comes out I will remain a devoted fan and will patiently wait to hear what Stella will do next with Sister Soleil. But I highly recommend this CD and if you don't own it, do yourself a big favor and get it right away!

Summer of '98 I practically loved at Music Warehouse in Downers Grove, IL. I was there ALL THE TIME. The manager would give me boxes of advanced CD's, promo CD's, videos, music video compilations from record labels, demos that musicians gave him, posters, everything. One day he gave me an advanced CD for 'Soularium' along with a promo VHS music video for 'Torch', the 3th track on the album. The packaging had a look not many things did at the time. This digital futuristic look, I was excited to see what it was. I came home and played the VHS first and right then and there fell in love. The music video was very..unproduced and I loved that. I thought the Stella was totally original and I must have watched that video a hundred times. After listening to the advanced copy of 'Soularium'I swear to god! I threw out 95% of my music collection. I was so in love with Sister Soleil at this point I wanted nothing more..except for more Sister Soleil albums. The songs "Red", "Chair", "Torch", "Hit Me" and "Little Girl". "Little Girl" is probably my favorite. I loved them all, including the short interludes in between but those tracks changed me and..my life. Before this I was listening to Monster Magnet, Biohazard, Cop Shoot Cop and Bikini Kill, this was a huge change for me. I wanted to know everything about Stella and hear everything she did. There were so many FUCKED UP things going on in my life at the time and the music of Sister Soleil made it all ok. As long as I had an hour or 2 to listen every day I was fine. Soularium was officially released and every week I bought a copy to show support. I would give these copies to friends of mine and sometimes strangers. 12 years later and this is still one of my favorites. My musical tastes have drastically changed again and 'Soularium' is the only album that remains in my top 10 as well as 'Drown Me in You'. Stella Katsoudas has a serious fucking talent and why this is such an obscure release I will never understand, but I hope that changes.

This album changed my life. I was 16 when the album came out. I saw Sister Soleil perform at Peoples in Ames, Iowa. It was my first show to see as a teen and I remember when I saw Stella perform "Blind" and I was so pulled in. Never had a song that brought me to tears that I had never heard. Strength is another song that I listened to many many times as a teen, it was like she was my big sister giving advice "gotta love yourself, gotta be your best friend, ain't nobody who will wait on you when you are acting like you're nearing the end, even though its tough, been through so much, what you know you take from it and shape it until it makes you strong" strong lyrics, Red, Torch, Chair, this whole album is like a story that Stella takes you into her world. I used this album as my own therapy. I shared this album and Drown Me In You with so many people. I had one guy from my school that listened to "Red" while he would illustrate his comic books. Anyone that knew me, knew about this album because it is amazing and all of the people that worked on it, did a wonderful job. Stella has incredible talent and everyone should own this album!