Gin Blossoms - Congratulations Im Sorry +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Solid sophmore effort from Tempe band

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 01/08/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Following up on NME after the band fired founder/songwriter Doug Hopkins must have seemed daunting. All of the GB are accomplished songwriters but none of them had the quicksilver talent of Hopkins. While Congradulations doesn't quite measure up to NME (or Dusted), it's a solid, tuneful album brimming with hooks. There's certainly none of the angst that defined Hopkins songs on NME. Congradulations is more of a mainstream album and, if it lacks the twists and turns of the first two albums best songs, it more than holds its own with the competition."

Good garage rock

Matthew Henry | ANN ARBOR, MI USA | 05/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nothing brilliant or particularly clever. Just good, solid melodic garage rock, like its predecessor, New Miserable Experience. Decent songs all, and if you liked NME you'll like this one as well."

It's about time...

V. Harder | Sleepy Hollow, Illinois United States | 10/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...I bought [this album] as soon as it came out, because I was in love with the Blossoms' second album, New Miserable Experience (it wasn't their first, the rare Dusted album was), and wanted more. This is the same wonderful sound, but with a slightly harder edge. Robin is the best singer of the 1990s, hands down, and the simplistic acoustic-country-pop-rock is one of my least-favorite kinds of music, but these guys give it a kind of magic. From Robin's soaring vocals to Scott's simple but beautiful lead guitar to unshakable drumming by Phillip, this is an excellent album. Follow You Down, the Blossoms best song after Allison Road, is wonderful, and My Car, Not Only Numb, and Whitewash are all great. Memphis Time is a more country song, while 7th Inning Stretch is well...kind of strange. I love this album, but I'd have to reccomend NME more, just because I like it's sound better--songs like Allison Road, Found Out About You, Mrs. Rita, and Lost Horizons will make any album great."

Seems Like a Century Ago Instead of a Decade

James Carragher | New York | 06/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm converting all my CDs to computer and selling off the CDs. Somebody just bought this one and I listened to it while ripping and, though it's only a decade old, the guitars, harmonies and tired, as in physically, yearning vocals make the GBs sound like something out of the early sixties. I actually liked it better on this hearing than the last time I played it -- and that's been years. Highlights: Day Job, My Car, I Can't Figure You Out, and Competition Smile."

Decent second album (3.5 stars)

John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 12/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Gin Blossoms released their second album, Congratulations...I'm Sorry, in 1996. This was made during a troubling time for the band as they not only had to follow up their very successful debut, New Miserable Experience, but they also had to do this without one of their chief songwriters, guitarist Doug Hopkins, who was dismissed from the band and would later commit suicide. Their first single, the catchy "Follow You Down", along with the non-album track, "Until I Hear It from You", showed promise as it became a double-sided Top 10 hit. Unfortunately, the album is a bit of a disappointment as it plays like a collection of decent to very good songs that don't grab your attention, even after repeated listenings.

The album starts out strong as "Day Job" is a great rocker while "Highwire" and the aforementioned "Follow You Down" are both very good. After this, the album is solid but not spectacular with the best tracks being "Virginia", "I Can't Figure You Out", and the pretty ballad "As Long As It Matters." Other tracks like "My Car", "Perfectly Still", "Competition Smile", and "Not Only Numb" are decent but don't contain the hooks or the passion that made New Miserable Experience so great. All told, while there's nothing bad on Congratulations...I'm Sorry, only the first three songs are on the level of their debut. The band's latest release, Major Lodge Victory, is a return to form as the catchy melodies from their heyday return.

"

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	Gin Blossoms Congratulations I'm Sorry Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
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