Which Fire Is The Fire That Calls You Out Into The Light?

Yesterday was what we'd call in the Too Poppy universe Super Tuesday. My checking account certainly couldn't keep up with the must-own new releases so I started off with The Posies' Blood/Candy (iTunes, Amazon MP3) and Gin Blossoms' No Chocolate Cake (iTunes, Amazon MP3). Both bands have been with me for nearly two decades now so they've earned it. After one listen, Blood/Candy is as stellar as I was hoping after I first heard Licenses to Hide. Suffice it to say that I think this is their best album since Frosting on the Beater - and every album since has been pretty damn good by most standards. On the other hand, after one listen I think No Chocolate Cake could've been called No Killer Tune. It's a nice but very safe Gin Blossoms album. I mostly like when they put away their mid-tempo AC tunes and turn on the power pop juice. So far I think this one could use more rocking out.

Only one listen each for both though so my thoughts could change. Gin Blossoms could be a slow-grower - I hope so - and The Posies could wear thin quickly - I highly doubt that.

Other notable new releases...

Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue (iTunes, Amazon MP3)
Pete Yorn - Self-Titled (produced by Frank Black!) (iTunes, Amazon MP3)
Neil Young - Le Noise (produced by Daniel Lanois!) (iTunes, Amazon MP3)
Eric Clapton - Clapton (iTunes, Amazon MP3)
Phil Collins - Going Back - uh, no

I Don't Want to Lose You Now

429 Records is quickly making a name for itself by signing 90s rock dinosaurs veterans like BoDeans, Tonic, and now Gin Blossoms. Look, I came of age musically in the late 80s and early 90s so this is stellar news to me. I remember the very first time I heard Hey Jealousy. Man, talk about perfect Too Poppy music.

Now all I need to do is wait until No Chocolate Cake is released on September 28. Learn more and preview the tunes here. Pre-order here. Reminisce here.

I Found Out Then What Passion Could Mean

Wendy Under the Stars
Eat My Brain
Eternal Ecstasy
Truth Untold
Someone Who's Cool (mp3)
Heterosexual Man
Love is the Subject

Remember any of those tunes? Any self-respecting power pop fan who lived through the 90s should - and if not, now is your time to familiarize yourself with the Canadian group Odds.

IMHO, I don't think they ever equaled the greatness of their debut Neopolitan, but they certainly gave it a run with albums like Bedbugs, Good Weird Feeling, and Nest. Seemingly out of nowhere, they released an album last year (originally as The New Odds - blech) called Cheerleader. Despite my belated discovery of Northey Valenzuela, the Odds were simply not on my radar for anything new.

As the goofier brother to the North, they fit in nicely with the harmless alt pop of 90s icons (yes, icons in the Too Poppy world) like Toad the Wet Sprocket and Gin Blossoms yet they never met the same success, at least in the states. I doubt Cheerleader will reverse that, just as TTWS and GB have yet to regain their 90s glory. Nevertheless, it's still great to hear new music from an old favorite.

MP3: Odds - Someone Who's Cool

Download Cheerleader via iTunes
TheirSpace
Facebook
Official Site

Online industry innovators NoiseTrade is even distributing a new pay-what-you-want EP - see below.

Looking Dumb In The Rain

At the last minute this week, I found out the Gin Blossoms where playing near me. Despite awful weather here in Atlanta, a shit sound system and rude ushers, the show was great.

They're touring with Soul Asylum and thankfully the Gin Blossoms played first. We had great seats (11th row). The turnout was disappointing - maybe a couple of hundred people, but the crowd was into it. Although I have to say the crowd was a bit eclectic. Young, middle, old, very old, pregnant (really, like 15 pregnant women - what is that all about?), a guy with really heinous plaid pants and so on. But 1/4 the reason you go to a concert is to people watch, right?

The concert was great if not a bit too short. They only played about an hour. They played what I wanted and expected to hear - Hey Jealousy, Allison Road, Til I Hear It From You, As Long As It Matters, Until I Fall Away, Follow You Down, Found Out About You. They played Learning The Hard Way and Let's Play Two from the new Major Lodge Victory. Not bad songs, but there are certainly better including my two favorites on that album, End Of The World or Jet Black Sunrise.

We skipped Soul Asylum. They're not bad, but there is really only so many times you can hear "Runaway Train" and I reached my quota years ago. :-)

You Think There's Not a Lot Going On

It's time to admit a guilty pleasure. Yes, I watch Corner Gas on WGN. Sigh. I'm not happy to admit it. It's a completely innocuous Canadian sitcom that is amusing sometimes and corny most of the time. As one reviewer put it: it's the fall's "best, least objectionable comedy series." What can I say, it comes after Scrubs and it helps me fall asleep.

So all day today, the theme song has been running through my head ("You think there's not a lot going on? Look closer, baby, you're so wrong.") It is a delightfully catchy and punchy few seconds of pure power pop. It's good enough to be something authentic and not some tossed-off theme song, right?

Right. And come to find out, it's from a whole album (released almost two years ago) of supposedly similar tunes, which, from the looks of it, leans a bit toward roots rock. Northey Valenzuela is responsible for the joy, and if you're familiar with the Odds and Gin Blossoms, then you know these guys. Craig Northey made some stellar music with his Canadian band the Odds, while Jesse Valenzuela is the source of some of the goodness that came from Gin Blossoms. They decided to get together and make their own album, which is readily unavailable! Well, you can get it used or as an import from Amazon.com, or you can always check eBay, which is where I'm going to get my copy.

I'll let you know how it is as a whole, but in the meantime, you can listen to the theme song to Corner Gas right here (lower right of your screen), and you can watch it after Scrubs on WGN.

Ain't it great when you find a gem where you least expect it? Look closer, baby...

Read more here.
Visit Jesse Valenzuela's website here.

It's real to me but not like these fools and not like this scene

Evolver has the top 5 forgotten 90's rock bands. I definitely agree with the top 2 - Toad The Wet Sprocket and Gin Blossoms. Some great old videos are included as well.

Of course I certainly haven't forgotten either of them.

You need to check out the Gin Blossoms' latest, Major Lodge Victory, if you haven't done so already. 3.8894483401 stars.

I didn't ask, you shouldn't have told me

In support of their new album Major Lodge Victory, the Gin Blossoms played a set at the Apple Store in SoHo tonight. I'd say if you were in the area to definitely go check it out, but it happened about 3 hours ago. :-)

If You Got Your Mind on a Revolution of the Soul

Can you believe it's been a decade since the last Gin Blossoms album?

Their "comeback" album Major Lodge Victory was released last week. If you're a big fan of this 90's power pop/adult alternative band, this will not disappoint. It's all there - the catchy hooks, the harmonies, the lyrics. The single Learning The Hard Way is strong, but to me is actually almost a cliche' Gin Blossoms song. The rest of the album is more sophisticated and mature, but still all Gin Blossoms.

Standout tracks for me include Come On Hard, Jet Black Sunrise and the awesome End of the World. I've listened to the album a couple of times now and I feel 10 years younger. A solid 4 star album.