(Translated from my original Italian text by ChatGPT and Piero Scaruffi)

The Gin Blossoms, led by singer and guitarist Doug Hopkins, debuted with Dusted (San Jacinto, 1989), playing innocuous country-pop in the tradition of R.E.M. and Tom Petty. After going largely unnoticed with their self-titled debut and the EP Up And Coming, they were suddenly propelled to radio fame by Hey Jealousy and Found Out About You, re-recorded for their second album, New Miserable Experience (A&M, 1992). Two other gems from the first record, Angels Tonight and Keli Richards, enhance the EP Up And Crumbling (A&M, 1991). Interestingly, the lyrics are the opposite of the music: while the tunes are cheerful, the words are deeply depressed. Doug Hopkins, the lyricist, tragically took his own life in December 1993.

Scott Johnson replaced him on guitar, joining singer Robin Wilson. The single Til' I Hear It From You, written by Marshall Crenshaw, revitalized the band’s career. Congratulations I'm Sorry (A&M, 1996) slightly accentuates harder sounds (almost hard-rock on the opening track, Day Job), but largely retreats to traditional territory, under a sonic rainbow imbued with country and blues hues: Highwire, modeled on the familiar Byrds and Tom Petty templates, and especially Follow You Down, their biggest hit, with Neil Young-style harmonica and a breezy country melody.

The band regrouped and collaborated with the Rembrandts' Danny Wilde, who wrote and produced the standout tracks on Major Lodge Victory (2006) and No Chocolate Cake (2010).

After a long hiatus they released Mixed Reality (2018).