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New Miserable Experience

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Released
  
August 4, 1992

Artist
  
Gin Blossoms

Label
  
A&M Records

Length
  
45:02

Release date
  
4 August 1992

New Miserable Experience httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenaa3Gin

Recorded
  
Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN

Producer
  
Gin Blossoms, John Hampton,

New Miserable Experience (1992)
  
Shut Up And Smoke (EP) (1994)

Genres
  
Alternative rock, Jangle pop, Power pop

Similar
  
Gin Blossoms albums, Alternative rock albums

New Miserable Experience is the breakthrough album by rock band Gin Blossoms, released on August 4, 1992. The album was released to little fanfare and relatively lackluster reviews. However, nearly a year after its release the lead single, "Hey Jealousy", entered the top 40, with "Found Out About You" following a few months later. The album eventually reached multi-platinum status.

Contents

The band's guitarist, Doug Hopkins, was fired near the conclusion of the recording sessions for the album, ostensibly for his persistent alcohol problems. His replacement, Scott Johnson, is listed as a member of the band in the liner notes, but did not play on the album. Just as the album was becoming a success at the end of 1993, Hopkins committed suicide.

New Miserable Experience's initial release had completely different packaging. The album's original cover artwork depicted the Arizona desert. Songs on the album, such as "Mrs. Rita", a song about a local psychic from the Gin Blossoms' hometown of Tempe, Arizona, were also written with references to the area, people and events surrounding the band at the time. The majority of the songs rely on a melody-driven pop style while the final track, "Cheatin'", leans into country music. The album was re-released in late summer 1993, in conjunction with A&M's newfound support of the album. To celebrate the album's tenth anniversary, a deluxe edition containing an extra disc of demos, outtakes and live performances was released by the label in 2002.

Gin blossoms lost horizons


Track listing

  1. "Lost Horizons" (Doug Hopkins) – 3:20
  2. "Hey Jealousy" (Hopkins) – 3:56
  3. "Mrs. Rita" (Jim Swafford, Jesse Valenzuela) – 4:25
  4. "Until I Fall Away" (Valenzuela, Robin Wilson) – 3:51
  5. "Hold Me Down" (Hopkins, Wilson) – 4:50
  6. "Cajun Song" (Valenzuela) – 2:56
  7. "Hands Are Tied" (Valenzuela) – 3:17
  8. "Found Out About You" (Hopkins) – 3:53
  9. "Allison Road" (Wilson) – 3:18
  10. "29" (Valenzuela) – 4:18
  11. "Pieces of the Night" (Hopkins) – 4:33
  12. "Cheatin'" (Hopkins, Valenzuela) – 3:25

Critical reception

Rolling Stone praised the album, saying it "sounds both fresh and highly personal." AllMusic called the album "a tight and lean collection of brilliant, edgy pop music."

Chart performance

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Gin Blossoms

  • Robin Wilson - lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Doug Hopkins - guitars (uncredited)
  • Jesse Valenzuela - guitars, mandolin, background vocals, lead vocals on "Cheatin'"
  • Bill Leen - bass guitar
  • Phillip Rhodes - percussion, drums
  • Additional Personnel

  • Robert Becker - piano on "Until I Fall Away" and "Pieces of the Night"
  • C. J. Chenier - accordion on "Cajun Song"
  • Robby Turner - pedal steel guitar on "Cheatin'" and "Cajun Song"
  • Production

  • Producers: Gin Blossoms, John Hampton
  • Engineer: John Hampton
  • Assistant Engineer: James "Left Of" Senter
  • Mixing: John Hampton
  • Mastering: George Marino
  • Art direction: Barrie Goshko
  • Design: Barrie Goshko
  • Photography: Jay Blakesberg, Robin Wilson
  • Crew: Jim Coleman, Scott Guess, Mike Chappell
  • Recorded at: Ardent Studios (Memphis, TN), except: "Allison Road" and "Mrs. Rita", recorded at: AB Recorders (Phoenix, AZ) By: Andy Barret
  • Original 1992 release:

  • Art direction and design: Rowan Moore
  • Photography: Dennis Keeley
  • Radiator: Kelly Ray
  • Songs

    1Lost Horizons3:21
    2Hey Jealousy3:56
    3Mrs Rita4:26

    References

    New Miserable Experience Wikipedia