New Miserable Experience
Template:DMCA Template:DMCA Script error: No such module "Unsubst-infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
New Miserable Experience is the second studio album by American alternative 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 in the United States and then in various charts around the world.[1] With "Found Out About You" following as a single a few months later, the album eventually reached multi-platinum status.[2]
Background
The band's original lead 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 died by suicide.
New Miserable ExperienceTemplate:'s initial release had completely different packaging. The album's original cover artwork depicted the Arizona desert. Several songs on the album were written with references to the area, people, and events surrounding the band at the time, such as "Mrs. Rita", which is a song about a local psychic from the Gin Blossoms' hometown of Tempe, Arizona. The majority of the songs rely on a melody-driven pop style, while the final track, "Cheatin'", leans into country.
The album was re-released in late summer 1993 with a new cover without the original Arizona desert photo. This re-release in conjunction with A&M's newfound support of the album. Lead singer Robin Wilson specifically requested artistic control over the new release, recalling, "I did insist that I have total control over the new cover. So what you see on New Miserable Experience, those are all my photographs. I did the layout, I handwrote all the lyrics and I made sure that I had control over that."[3]
Musical style
The album's music has been described as alternative rock,[4][5] jangle pop,[6][2] and power pop.[7]
Critical reception
Rolling Stone critic Paul Evans praised New Miserable Experience, saying it "sounds both fresh and highly personal."[15] In his review for AllMusic, Rick Anderson called the album "a tight and lean collection of brilliant, edgy pop music".[8] Evan Rytlewski of Pitchfork described it over 20 years later as "a tender and sincere record that made the band famous while they grappled with tragedy."[12]
Track listing
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track listing/configuration' not found.
To celebrate the album's tenth anniversary in 2002, a deluxe edition containing an extra disc of demos, outtakes, and live performances was released by the label.[16] The Rarities Album was released separately in Abbreviated form in 2010 as Rarities, missing the three cuts from Dusted.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track listing/configuration' not found.
- Tracks 1–3: from Dusted (1989)
- Tracks 4–6: from Up and Crumbling (1991)
- Track 7: previously unreleased; outtake from New Miserable Experience (1992)
- Tracks 8–11: from Shut Up and Smoke, and "Soul Deep" also appears on the soundtrack album from the movie Speed (1994)
- Track 12: previously unreleased; outtake from Shut Up and Smoke (1994)
- Track 13: from Music from the Motion Picture Wayne's World 2 (1993)
- Track 14: previously unreleased; intended for a Big Star tribute album which was eventually released a few years later as Big Star, Small World (1994)
- Track 15: alternate version of the same song from New Miserable Experience, and also appears on the re-released "Allison Road" single (1994)
- Tracks 16–21: recorded live on May 13, 1993, at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California, originally released on "Found Out About You" (1993)
- Track 22: previously unreleased; alternate version of the same song from New Miserable Experience (1992)
Personnel
Gin Blossoms
- Robin Wilson – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Doug Hopkins – guitars (Credited for performance and writing, uncredited as an active bandmember)
- 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, Tennessee), except: "Allison Road" and "Mrs. Rita", recorded at: AB Recorders (Phoenix, Arizona) by Andy Barret
Original 1992 release:
- Art direction and design: Rowan Moore
- Photography: Dennis Keeley
- Radiator: Kelly Ray
Chart performance
Weekly charts
| Chart (1992–1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] | 63 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[18] | 54 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[19] | Gold | 50,000 |
| United States (RIAA)[20] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000 |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hudak, Joseph (March 29, 2017). "Gin Blossoms' 'New Miserable Experience': The Dark History of a Nineties Classic". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Masley, Ed (September 1, 2018). "Gin Blossoms' Robin Wilson on why 'Mixed Reality' is their best since 'Miserable' was new". AZCentral.com. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ryan, Jim. "Robin Wilson On New Gin Blossoms Album Mixed Reality, Celebrating New Miserable Experience On Tour". Forbes. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Beach, Connor (June 7, 2018). "Gin Blossoms Come Full Circle With Latest Record". Long-Islander News. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hudak, Joseph (March 29, 2017). "Gin Blossoms' 'New Miserable Experience': The Dark History of a Nineties Classic". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
While Hopkins' presence is all over New Miserable Experience – he wrote several cornerstone tracks, including autobiographical opener "Lost Horizons," the Byrds-like "Pieces of the Night" and the Modern Rock Number One "Found Out About You" – Wilson and Valenzuela provided their own songs that further cemented the album as a Nineties alt-rock favorite.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Meuth, Gary (April 27, 2017). "The Gin Blossoms define sound of jangle pop". Salina Journal. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Young, Jon (January–February 2003). "Gin Blossoms: New Miserable Experience (Deluxe Edition)". Blender. Vol. 2, no. 1. New York. p. 110. Archived from the original on February 20, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Anderson, Rick. "New Miserable Experience – Gin Blossoms". AllMusic. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Herrmann, Brenda (August 20, 1992). "Gin Blossoms: New Miserable Experience (dad/A&M)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rosenbluth, Jean (August 15, 1992). "Gin Blossoms, 'New Miserable Experience,' A&M". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jones, Alan (May 7, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 17. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rytlewski, Evan (March 3, 2024). "Gin Blossoms: New Miserable Experience Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gross, Joe (2004). "Gin Blossoms". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 332. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Christgau, Robert (November 29, 1994). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Evans, Paul (December 23, 1993 – January 6, 1994). "Gin Blossoms: New Miserable Experience". Rolling Stone. No. 672–673. New York. p. 146. Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Schabe, Patrick (November 7, 2002). "Gin Blossoms: New Miserable Experience (Deluxe Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Template:Cite Ryan
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ Script error: No such module "cite".
- ^ Script error: No such module "cite".
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Authority control/config' not found.
