Customer Reviews

Congratulations I'm Sorry

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

...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.

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.

No one knows exactly what that means and no one can define it. It was labelled to the band by an article in RS or Spin and stuck with Gin Blossoms. Forget it. Buy this album for the only reason that they influenced Train, Dishwalla, Matchbox 20 and other rock bands in today's music.

Not Only Numb, Follow you down and Till I Hear It From Yor have scored big chart numbers. Gin Blossoms as well as others definately changed the music industry in the mid-90's from grunge to rock.

This album doesn't measure up to the debut. The songs are just not of the same quality, that's all. The melodies are not as catchy, and nothing grabs you like "Until I Fall Away" or "Hey Jealousy" did. "Follow You Down" is a nice song that could have probably fit well on the first album, but there is not much else that really stands out.

This album is OK, and thats pretty much it. As compared to New Miserable Experience this album is pretty weak. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Gin Blossoms fan, but this album seems to have lost that lone, midwest, folky-rock, freshness the first cd had. Of course Follow You Down is Great, and so are songs like Whitewash and Not Only Numb. But what is up with Highwire?? I don't get that song. There's not much of a flow to the album either, and the writing feels a lot less heart-felt than New Miserable Experience or Dusted. But if your a fan, yea, pick it up.

This is a band that could have been incredible if they would not have broken up so prematurely. After selling 2 million copies of the breakthrough album NEW MISERABLE EXPERIENCE, the band showed the world that they were not just a one hit wonder like the skeptics made them out to be in the summer of 1993. "Congratulations I'm Sorry" was a loud college pop/rock album that resonated with me when I was a junior in high school. The song "Day Job" is a tune that everyone who has been in college can relate with. The deeply introspective song begs for the point of higher education and careers in general. There are also songs of pure felicity like "Follow You Down" and "My Car." It is hard not to smile during most of this album. This is the one you want to pop in your cd player and take a road trip with. Is it intellectually challenging? Not really. But it is human. It's human and therefore you WILL relate with it.
During this album in 1996 the band played at college venues, got on SNL and the Tonight Show, and later went to Europe and played before huge stadiums. Unfortunately, in 1997 the band broke up. There is talk of them getting back together which I hope is the case. Buy this, you won't be dissapointed.

"I should have been a whole lot farther, I'm never going back to college, for just one good day job."

The only problem with debuting with an outstanding album like "New Miserable Experience" is having to come up with a great second one. Because of the enormity of that first album, the Blossoms were not given a fair chance with "Congratulations I'm Sorry," their sophmore release. Unfortunately, it would be their last for 10 years.

However, years later without all the hype of that first album, you should take a step back and review "Congratualtions I'm Sorry" for what it is...not a follow-up to "New Miserable Experience" but an entity all its own.

It has some of the Blossoms greatest introspective songs and outstanding melodies. Even though this album has been discontinued by the manufacturer (another clue that this album and band has been disrespected by the men in suits), pick it up when you find it and judge for yourself. It's a shame that the Gin Blossoms were not more respected, but thank God for miracles. They have reunited and rock better then ever.