Mixed Reality (album)

Mixed Reality
A cartoon drawing of an alien with mid-century modern graphics
Studio album by
Gin Blossoms
ReleasedJune 15, 2018 (2018-06-15)
RecordedJanuary 2017–2018
StudioDrive-In Studios, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
GenreAlternative rock
Length53:34
LanguageEnglish
LabelCleopatra
ProducerDon Dixon
Gin Blossoms chronology
Icon
(2011) 		Mixed Reality
(2018)

Mixed Reality is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Gin Blossoms. It was released on June 15, 2018, on Cleopatra Records.

Recording and release

The band's longtime producer John Hampton died in 2014 and while they toured to promote the 25th anniversary of their most successful album, New Miserable Experience, the band members met Don Dixon at a show in Ohio.[1] They discussed recording together and entered Dixon's recording partner Mitch Easter's studio in October 2016.[1] Vocalist Robin Wilson says that the sessions for the album were "really inspired." The band spent about a year writing songs and doing demos before recording the album. Wilson calls Mixed Reality "sort of a companion" to New Miserable Experience and says, "It feels to me like a record we would have all wanted to make when we were 25."[2]

The band released "Break" as a lead single[3] and followed the release with a tour that was documented on their Chicago date, where they played this album and New Miserable Experience in their entirety.[4]

Track listing

  1. "Break" (Robin Wilson) – 4:00
  2. "Face the Dark" (Wilson) – 4:09
  3. "New Mexico Trouble" (Scott Johnson, Bill Leen) – 4:23
  4. "Angels Fly" (Jesse Valenzuela, Danny Wilde) – 3:51
  5. "Here Again" (Valenzuela, Wilde) – 4:01
  6. "Still Some Room in Heaven" (Johnson, Leen) – 2:58
  7. "Miranda Chicago" (Leen) – 3:52
  8. "Girl on the Side" (Johnson, Kira Brown) – 4:02
  9. "Fortunate Street" (Valenzuela, Wilde) – 3:46
  10. "Wonder" (Valenzuela, Wilde) – 3:56
  11. "Shadow" (Johnson, Wilson) – 3:41
  12. "Forever Is This Night" (Wilson) – 3:13
  13. "The JFK Shit Show" (Johnson, Wilson) – 0:30
  14. "The Devil's Daughter" (Wilson) – 2:23
  15. "Mega Pawn King" (Leen) – 4:49

Personnel

Gin Blossoms

  • Scott Hessel – drums, percussion
  • Scott "Scotty" Johnson – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Bill Leen – bass guitar
  • Jesse Valenzuela – rhythm and lead guitar, backing and lead vocals
  • Robin Wilson – lead vocals

Technical personnel

References

  1. ^ a b Masley, Ed (June 16, 2016). "Gin Blossoms Are Cutting Their New Album with the R.E.M. Production Team of Don Dixon and Mitch Easter". Arizona Republic. Gannett.
  2. ^ Wardlaw, Matt. "In Advance of an Upcoming Hard Rock Live Concert, Gin Blossoms Singer Reflects on the Band's 25-Year History". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  3. ^ Graff, Gary (June 14, 2018). "Gin Blossoms Return with Tom Petty-Inspired 'Break'". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  4. ^ Ryan, Jim (February 28, 2019). "Gin Blossoms Record Live Set On Stage at House of Blues Chicago". Forbes. Retrieved June 10, 2019.