Jul
23
2006

Major Lodge Victory Leaked

...And My First Thoughts On The Album

(Add / View Comments) (0)Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 03:23:08 am
(Posted Under: Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene, Music Music)
Today I spent a good amount of time listening to Pandora, which has tracks from Major Lodge Victory on it. I got Someday Soon a billion times, Super Girl about half as much, and some rotations of Learning The Hard Way and The End Of The World.

Given that I only got those four songs, in addition to Hey Jealousy, Found Out About You, Until I Fall Away, Follow You Down and Day Job leads me to believe that Pandora only plays singles.

During the session I got to hear Crackers Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now), which was actually a major coop, as I've never heard the studio version before, and have been trying to download it lately (I would buy the CD, but that is a whole nother blog entry! [smile] ). In addition, Ashbrook's Scotch and a Handgun got played, which was impressive (that it was on Pandora).

But neither the less, back to the Gin Blossoms - as of about 12 hours ago, Major Lodge Victory has leaked onto the internet in it's entirety. Probably not suprising since advanced copies have been sent out to over the place for at least a week, but still it's over two weeks before the official release date - leaked on July 21st, to be released August 8th.

There was some question to whether I should listen to it before the release date. Some obviously not being a lot...

One of the first things I'd note, which I'd been suspecting earlier this week - I really like Someday Soon. That was one that when I first saw the track list kinda cringed at seeing on there, but I really think it works. To me, it's As Long As It Matters, but actually done right. I might get over it, but I hope not, because I'm quite into it right now! I wonder if that is because of when I first heard the song - quite possible.

Learning The Hard Way I've known for over a month now - Learning is to Major Lodge Victory what Follow You Down was to Congratulations I'm Sorry. At the end of the day, it's the song of the album.

Come On Hard sounds awesome - reminds me a lot of the demo version, but more polished. Probably my second favorite song on the album. Which is funny to think back, when I'd first heard it - Robin doing it acoustic years ago, and I really didn't like it! While there are other parts of the album I get excited about, at the end of the day I think this would have to be my second favorite track, and I'm sure will be one that stands the test of time. Come on hard at night, I pine for you and no other...woo!

Heart Shaped Locket has previously sounded lame on the Amazon and such previews - though it definately sounds better in it's full version - I really like the chorus, very catchy!

The Edge Of The World is great - I actually heard it a few times in it's entirity on Pandora. I think something is lost in translation though. I don't mean on the album either - I think this has been true ever since the band started doing the song. For me, Robin's older acoustic version has more grit, and at the end of the day prefer over the more produced Blossoms version - I personally would have opted for a more acoustic / Until I Fall Away arrangement. The background vocals in it seem very dramatic also. It's great, but I guess I was more physced about it back in the day.

Long Time Gone is a rocker - not much more to say, it rocks! Love it!

Super Girl - another one that I've heard in it's entirety a few times today already. It's sad that it doesn't have the intro that they played at the XM Radio show that was broadcast last year - that was amazing, and was my immediate attraction to the song. Not present on the album. Which is fine, but a shame, because it's what Katie and I would these days call "uuchk!". Neither the less, a highlight of the album - Super Girl is one of those really great pop songs - in that I can't place what it is about it that makes it so good, but it is!

Let's Play Two - never cared for this one live. Actually, I finally saw the band for the first time after being a huge fan for 12 odd years, and this song pretty much bored me! It admitadly sounds better on the record. Definately has some Spark elements, like the guitar riff - which just kinda sounds strange at the moment. Although I don't particularly get the song, I do at least like it more than I have previously.

Curious Thing - Hall And Oates meets The Rembrandts. I'm not sure how to take this song. I don't dislike it, but then again, I'm not entirely sure why the Blossom's are playing it.

Jet Black Sunrise - Great song - not sure about this version yet though. End Of The World comments may apply here - I probably would have done it differently.

Fool For The Taking - it's always been not a favorite, but can dig it. That's probably still true, definately behind the favorites, but ahead of the others. The crazy ass rock ending kicks ass!

California Sun - I don't get it. I like the song fine, I always have, but it doesn't fit on the record. That's what solo careers were invented for!

The album is quite noticibly heavy on the Jesse side. Not to mention writing a whopping 10 out of 12 songs on the album, but the backing vocals are very noticibly much more thick than on Congratulations I'm Sorry or New Miserable Experience. This is true of almost every track as it comes to a close. And, to me California Sun, sung by Jesse, sounds like something left off Tunes Young People Will Enjoy. The idea of Jesse singing something on this record, like Cheatin' on New Miserable Experience I liked, but I'm not to thrilled by California Sun.

I would also note an audiable Danny Wilde / Rembrandts influence over most of the album - Jet Black is one of the few tracks that escape this, and ring true of a Gin Blossoms sound. In some places it feels like a bit of a personality crisis to me, to some degree anyway.

It's no New Miserable Experience, but then I didn't expect it would be. I was actually listening to New Miserable recently, and thought how it'd be a complete shock if another album ever eclipsed it. Which is fine, because I don't really want another New Miserable Experience. It does definately eclipse Congratulations I'm Sorry.

Very pro the album!
Now Playing: Gin Blossoms - Come On Hard

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