''Major Lodge Victory'' is the fourth studio album by the
power pop
Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...
band
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms is an American alternative rock band formed in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona, Tempe, Arizona. They rose to prominence following the 1992 release of their first major label album, ''New Miserable Experience'', and the first single released ...
. It was the first album released by the band since their 1997–2002 breakup. It was released on August 8, 2006, on
Hybrid Recordings
Sony BMG Music Entertainment was an American record company owned as a 50–50 joint venture between Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann. The venture's successor, the revived Sony Music, is wholly owned by Sony, following their buyout o ...
, making it the Gin Blossoms' first new album in over 10 years.
Hybrid promoted the album's first single, "Learning the Hard Way", for months prior to the album's release. The song received heavy AAA airplay and peaked at 8 on the FMQB AAA Chart. The second single, "Long Time Gone", was also released to radio later that year.
''Major Lodge Victory'' entered the Billboard 200 album chart at number 159 after selling 5,000 copies in just one week. According to a
Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency was estab ...
news article this was the first time that the Gin Blossoms had appeared on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart in 10 years, one month and two weeks. The Gin Blossoms had last appeared on the chart during the week of July 13, 1996, with their previous album, ''
Congratulations… I'm Sorry
''Congratulations I'm Sorry'' (typeset as ''Congratulations...I'm Sorry'') is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Gin Blossoms, and the follow-up album to the successful 1992 release ''New Miserable Experience'', released ...
''.
The album's title, according to the lead singer Robin Wilson, refers to an in–band joke by a former band member,
Doug Hopkins
Douglas Owen Hopkins (April 11, 1961 – December 5, 1993) was an American musician and songwriter. He co-founded Gin Blossoms, a popular modern rock band of the early 1990s, with Richard Taylor. He was the band's lead guitarist and a princ ...
. While touring by van in the early 1990s, the band was discussing whether to continue driving, or to stop at a hotel. Hopkins wanted to stop and rest. After this discussion, the band's van lost control and spun wildly. "Major," Hopkins said, referring to the near accident after the vehicle came to rest. A large hotel sign was visible nearby. "Lodge," he then stated, referring to the hotel. "Victory," he then stated, as the band then decided the near accident was a sign to stop driving for the night.
''Major Lodge Victory'' has sold over 35,000 copies to date according to Nielsen Soundscan.
[http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/music/articles/2010/09/24/20100924gin-blossoms-best-buy-tempe-acoustic-cd.html ]
Track listing
#"
Learning the Hard Way" (
Jesse Valenzuela
Jesse Valenzuela (born May 22, 1962) is an American rock musician and singer who is perhaps best known as a member of the alternative rock band Gin Blossoms. Valenzuela was originally the vocalist in Gin Blossoms when the band first formed in ...
) – 4:09
#"Come On Hard" (
Robin Wilson) – 4:10
#"Someday Soon" (Valenzuela) – 4:41
#"Heart Shaped Locket" (Valenzuela,
Danny Wilde, Sue Sandberg) – 3:49
#"The End Of The World" (Wilson, Valenzuela) – 4:05
#"Long Time Gone" (Valenzuela, Wilson, Wilde, Sandberg) – 3:49
#"Super Girl" (Valenzuela) – 4:57
#"Let's Play Two" (Valenzuela, Sandberg) – 3:03
#"Curious Thing" (Valenzuela, Oliver Jones) – 4:12
#"Jet Black Sunrise" (
Bill Leen
Bill Leen (born March 1, 1962) is an American musician from Tempe, Arizona. He is the bass player of the band Gin Blossoms, which he co-founded in 1987 with his longtime friend Doug Hopkins.
Leen graduated from McClintock High School in Tempe, ...
) – 4:13
#"Fool For The Taking" (Valenzuela, Wilde, Sandberg) – 3:46
#"California Sun" (Valenzuela, Wilde, Sandberg) – 4:05
Charts
Album -
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
(North America)
References
External links
Gin BlossomsMajor Lodge Victory MinisiteHybrid Recordings
{{Authority control
Gin Blossoms albums
2006 albums
Albums produced by John Hampton (music producer)
Hybrid Recordings albums