"Group Therapy" is the fifth studio album by the alternative rock band Concrete Blonde. It was released on January 15, 2002, and marks a reunion of the group after a separation that lasted for about eight years, 1994-2002. Johnette Napolitano and James Mankey, the original band members, rejoined for this album with drummer Harry Rushakoff, solidifying the core trio of the group's most successful line-ups.
This album showcases the band's classic individualistic fusion of punk, country, goth, and folk styles, with a conspicuous lean towards heavy guitars on most of the tracks. The album contains thirteen tracks that stylistically range from stirring and contemplative like "Violent" and "When I Was a Fool" to more uptempo numbers like "Roxy" and analogous to Concrete Blonde's classic hit, "God Is A Bullet."
Critics and fans generally received "Group Therapy" warmly, praising the band's signature rugged yet melodic-rock sound. Notably, the album's politically charged anthems and emotionally raw love songs reflected the band's matured approach to their craft, mirroring the personal growth of the band members during their hiatus. It was a creatively adventurous attempt to reestablish Concrete Blonde's unique voice and presence in the music scene.
