tunes you need Tuesday: Gin Blossoms

When I think of bands I could listen to no matter my mood, Gin Blossoms is right up there with Natalie Merchant, Lemonheads, and REM.  Gin Blossoms were one of the first bands to master the power pop genre and they still do it well.  I love this band for their sound and lyrics.  And how can you not love a band who takes its name from a phrase about W.C. Fields' nose?  I love a rock band with a sense of humor. 

My first experience with Gin Blossoms was their 2nd album and first major label release, New Miserable Experience in 1992.  This album is a classic in alternative power pop that debuted when Nirvana and Pearl Jam and the rest of the grunge bands were enjoying a heyday.  New Miserable Experience was a breath of fresh air to me, as I hated the grunge bands and was waiting for a band like Gin Blossoms to come along.  The album yielded some great tunes, including "Found Out About You" and "Hey Jealousy," which both went to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.  Many of the songs on the album deal with drinking, unrequited love, and complicated relationships.  "Mrs. Rita" is about seeing a tarot card reader for advice on love — not something you hear everyday.   I found some great footage of Gin Blossoms in Chicago from their DVD, so here's a treat: "29" and "Cheatin." "Cheatin" has a country flair and has a great line, "you can't call it cheatin', she reminds me of you."

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In 1996 they released Congratulations…I'm Sorry and the song "Follow You Down" went to #9, but the album didn't fare to well and Gin Blossoms broke up the next year.  Singer Robin Wilson and drummer Phillip Rhodes started the Gas Giants and the other members went in different directions until the end of 2001 when Gin Blossoms reformed.  Yea!   This is what Wilson had to say about reuniting, "We always said our breakup wasn't forever and right now we're all
feeling like we want to be Gin Blossoms again. We make a noise together
that we can't make otherwise. We respect and appreciate that we need
each other to create that sound. This time we hope to avoid being
swallowed by the chaos." 

Turns out the still had it.  Gin Blossoms released Major Lodge Victory in 2006 and it's a good album.  The word on the street is Gin Blossoms is working on a new album for this year and I can't wait.  If you haven't given the band a listen until now I hope you'll find them as fun as I do.  I'll leave you with "Learning the Hard Way" from Major Lodge Victory, it's a great song for a Tuesday.