Review 1 of 9

GINBLOSSOMSFAN writes:

5of 5 Stars

THIS LONG AWAITED CD ARRIVED IN AUGUST, I HAVE NOT REMOVED IT FROM MY PLAYER SINCE THE DAY I OPENED IT. EVERY SONG IS EXCELLENT, THE GUYS HAVE OUTDONE THEMSELVES. THE GIN BLOSSOMS ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER! HAIL TO THE GB'S!!!
I RATE IT A W E S O M E !!!!!!!!!!!

Jan 10, 2007 22:37:15

Review 2 of 9

jayslonghorn writes:

4of 5 Stars

Have Fricke or Sheffield review this record. Please. From a
Mpls guy steeped in Westerberg, Louris, Pirner/Murphy, and
fully in tune with new and recent raves like Tapes-N-Tapes,
Low, and Har Mar Superstar- I'm telling you this catchy pop
record is better than all the aforementioned recent releases
plus Petty's new one to boot. In the tradition of the Hollies
and Byrd's, this is great stuff. How many bands have an
instantly recognizable signature sound? These guys do.
Please RS, let's have another staffer's opinion.

Oct 23, 2006 18:01:37

Review 3 of 9

JohnFraser writes:

4of 5 Stars

This finely crafted collection of tunes is not the work of beer bloated has-beens whose bank accounts need cash infusions. The truth is the Gin Blossoms “need” to play together! The same grueling tour schedule that tore these road warriors apart in 1997 germinated over the millennium and bloomed again in 2002. Blazing a trail of concert halls and clubs bursting with die hard fans for the ensuing three years they have managed to assemble enough good material for a new album; and "Major Lodge Victory" is well worth the listen!

The current collection opens with Jesee Venezuala’s powerful “Learning The Hard Way” followed by “Come On Hard”, Robin Wilson’s enigmatic rant vaguely referring to old forgotten compositions and his long lost partner Doug Hopkins. Many concoctions of this tune have appeared on the internet over the last few years and it’s good to hear a definitive, studio version at last.

“Long Time Gone” is classic, upbeat Gin Blossoms, right up there with “My Hands Are Tied” and “Hold Me Down”. “Curious Thing” is the Gins anthem to jangle rock. Think “Hollies, Byrds and Beatles”.

Venezuala”s beautiful, meditative “Someday Soon” sets the mood for Bill Lean’s writing debut with “Jet Black Sunrise”, a major 7th laden ballad of surprising depth and maturity.

I would have liked a few more Robin Wilson tunes but he’s been busy with Steve French on a side project called the Longshadows for the past year or so. Their album “Simple Minded Way” is a gem.

The Gins have never been popular in the fashionable sense but their following is gigantic. A Google search posted a year ago yielded almost one and a quarter million hits, this from a band who hadn’t released any new recordings in ten years. It will be interesting to see how their fan base grows as a result of “Major Lodge Victory”.

By: John Fraser
jdfraser@sympatico.ca

Oct 4, 2006 08:22:16

Review 4 of 9

hilarion writes:

3of 5 Stars

if the first single is any indication, we are in for another ride.
=]

Aug 17, 2006 23:14:48

Review 5 of 9

saaaadddy writes:

5of 5 Stars

This is a great album!

Aug 12, 2006 04:40:04

Review 6 of 9

bullytomcat writes:

5of 5 Stars

What in the world are you talking about Andy, did you forget to take your meds when you wrote the review? This is an awesome album, all of the songs could be catchy singles, it's GREAT to listen to, and the fans of the Gin Blossoms are going to love this as well as a whole brand new generation of kids. People need to have fun music that makes them happy-I am loving this CD and it was worth the 10 year wait.

Aug 11, 2006 16:02:22

Review 7 of 9

Churchill48 writes:

5of 5 Stars

Major Lodge Victory is an awesome return for one of the most underated bands of the 90's. Pop in the CD or Mp3 player, roll the window down and feel the breeze on your face. Great driving music. No attitude or brooding, just pure sing along fun. Perfect pop rock!!!!!!!

Aug 11, 2006 12:17:05

Review 8 of 9

bhartman35 writes:

4of 5 Stars

"Major Lodge Victory" is a great return for the Gin Blossoms, and a worthy successor to their two previous efforts, despite the lukewarm review given by the RS reviewer. Songs like "Learning the Hard Way", "Come on Hard", "Curious Thing", and "Super Girl" stand up perfectly well to the rest of their discography, and, IMO, surpass most of what was on "Congratulations...I'm Sorry". It's true that the songs have a generally more laid-back sound than songs like "Hey Jealousy", but it's a more mature sound, too. The other difference is that the band has shaken off some of its ironic intent. (Going from "New Miserable Experience" and "Congratulations...I'm Sorry" to "Major Lodge Victory" is evidence of that, unless I'm really missing something.)

The only negative notes I would sound on this are the obvious filler songs like "Let's Play Two" and "Fool For The Taking". (Those who remember "Congratulations...I'm Sorry"'s "7th Inning Stretch" know that the band tends to reference baseball in their filler songs.)

Aug 11, 2006 07:56:05