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»» Singer Robin Wilson recently encountered a friend who had heard the new Gin Blossoms’ single, "Learning the Hard Way," on the radio. At first, the friend was aghast. "I thought, ‘Who the hell has the audacity to sound this much like the Gin Blossoms?" he told Wilson.

Indeed, the Gin Blossoms’ inventive, instantly appealing smart pop has proven so influential that Wilson’s friend can be forgiven for initially thinking that the song might be by one of the band’s many imitators. He might also be forgiven for not realizing that after a difficult breakup, a stirring reunion and a few years of playing live shows together, the Gin Blossoms had completed Major Lodge Victory, a new album in stores August 8, that is both long-awaited and well worth the wait. Accept no substitutes: the Gin Blossoms are back.

"We couldn’t have learned how to make it work for all of us and still be a band after eighteen years without a lot of blood and history behind us," Wilson explains. "But we have a unique sound, and that’s rare. To hear that with new material is really satisfying - and a relief!"

The twelve songs on Major Lodge Victory deliver that same signature blend of melody, mystery and poignancy that Gin Blossoms fans have come to love - from the band’s breakthrough album, New Miserable Experience through to its powerful follow-up Congratulations-I’m Sorry and such enduring and memorable songs as "Hey Jealousy," "Allison Road," "Follow You Down" and "Til I Hear It From You." Since Wilson, guitarists Jesse Valenzuela and Scott Johnson and bassist Bill Leen reunited as the Gin Blossoms in 2002, the idea of recording new songs was something the group thought about but didn’t want to force. "I wanted it to happen organically," Valenzuela says. "And it did."   more »