Share the post "Album review: GIN BLOSSOMS – Mixed Reality"
Cleopatra Records [Release date: 22.06.18]
Back in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s I was turned on to the jangling guitar sound of American “college radio” by my discovery of two bands – REM (before they hit paydirt) and The Gin Blossoms.
Championed by the likes of Bob Harris in particular, this sound reached its zenith with REM’s multi-platinum ‘Automatic For The People’ album but two albums released by the Gin Blossoms at the time – 1992’s ‘New Miserable Experience’ and ‘Congratulations I’m Sorry’ from 1996 were every bit its equal with tracks such as ‘Hey Jealousy’, ‘Found Out About You’, ‘Follow You Down’ and ’Til I Hear It From You’ reaching the upper echelons of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
Fast forward to 2018 and the ‘Blossoms are back with a cracker.
‘Mixed Reality’ is a 15 track return to the glory days for the band – classic Gin Blossoms but with a contemporary twist that will satisfy existing fans and newcomers alike.
With veteran REM producer Mitch Easter in the engineer’s chair and power-pop legend Don Dixon producing, that wonderful jangling Byrdsian guitar is to the fore on an outstanding tracklist that runs from tasteful ballads to full-on rock and all points in between.
From the get-go of opening track ‘Break’ with its wonderful guitar arpeggios to the “REM all over it” closer of ‘Mega Pawn King’ the quality never drops.
I say never drops, but the thirty seconds of ‘The JFK Shit Show’ is excruciating – what they thought they were doing here is anyone’s guess.
Putting that aside, the highlights are profuse with tracks such as ‘Face The Dark’, ‘Here Again’, ‘Still Some Room In Heaven’ and ‘Miranda Chicago’ reinforcing the band’s legacy, the moving ‘Girl On The Side’ vying with opener ‘Break’ for the album’s high point and ‘Fortunate Street’ the sort of track you would hear coming from an open-top ’57 Chevvy as it cruised through Malibu.
I have my own version of the Old Grey Whistle Test – if my wife (who is neither old nor grey) shouts upstairs “what was that you were just playing” you know you are onto a winner and she duly obliged as the fade out of ‘Mega Pawn King’ ran out.
It is so good to have them back and on such good form – it’s like the last twenty years never happened and if you are looking for the soundtrack to the summer, this’ll do nicely.
Just fabulous. *****
Review by Alan Jones
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 14 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 9 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 29 April 2024
BRIGITTE PURDY Sugar Fried Candy (Dirtshack Records)
ATTIC THEORY The Legacy (indie)
THE HOWLERS I Need Your Love (indie)
VELVETEEN QUEEN Bad Reputation (indie)
WILLS AND THE WILLING Scuffed Knees (Smash & Grab Music Ltd)
READY THE PRINCE Still Believe (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 29 April 2024
09:00-12:00 PRAYING MANTIS Defiance (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to an X (Twitter) account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: GIN BLOSSOMS – Mixed Reality"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
