Goo Goo Dolls Album: “Gutterflower”

First off--I'm a hardcore Goo Goo Dolls fan. It would be pretty difficult for them to create a piece of music I didn't like. But all bias aside, this is a GOOD album. Anyone who picks it up expecting to hear a second Dizzy Up The Girl will be sadly mistaken. This is better. (Be still, my heart.)

The GGD sound is here, alive and well, but even more polished. The driving rock abounds, and the lyrics are right on. Unlike the past few records, this one lacks a 'ballad', but it is not missed. These songs stick in your head. "Big Machine" is a driving melodious effort with great lyrics. "What A Scene" is a song for the times, and talks about the falacies of being a "pop sensation", while delivering an awesome sound. It is very unique, I cannot think of another one of their songs with a similiar sound. The only 'slow' song might be "Sympathy", a quieter song without drums, that almost borders on a country taste. On "It's Over", John's voice is barely recognizable, very deep and husky in the beginning (very cool), then the song glides into GGD melody...a brilliant song. And since people tend to overlook Robby's music, I have to make sure to say "Listen to his songs, too!" He is a great lyricist, and his songs have more of a punk flair to them, like in the old days.

You will not regret buying this album--you'll be proud that you do. Hardcore fans will appreciate the progress heard on this cd, and others will be introduced to a mature, rockin' sound. Enjoy.

I love the Goo Goo Dolls simply because of John Rzeznik's raspy, sexy voice and unique arrangement of lyrics. I enjoy all their songs on love, and this album does a good job at giving their fans what they want. I'll list the key songs.

Big Machine- You should have heard this by now, so I'll quickly say that it has great, meaningful lyrics and a gripping chorus.

Here is Gone- Fist single off Album, also known. Same as Big Machine.

What A Scene- Powerful from the start, both vocals and riffs. Similar to "Big Machine".

It's Over- Most original song on the Album. Great use of Johnny's voice in the verses. Commanding chorus.

Sympathy- Music isn't all that special, but the lyrics keep you hanging on.

Truth is A Whisper- Travel back to "Long Way Down", it brings that feel back.

So, after much anticipation, the Dolls release their 7th studio album. After delivering the stunning "Dizzy Up the Girl," one has to wonder if the Dolls still had it in them.

Guess what? They do.

Have you ever known John Rzeznik to write an outright bad song? He's always written strong pop melodies and in "Gutterflower," he delivers the goods once again.

Now let's get something straight here. If you're expecting something that sounds like "Dizzy Up the Girl," you're gonna be a little disappointed. The only thing that carried over from that album is the rather poignant melodies. Imagine, if you will, "Iris" or "Black Balloon," but with slow but hard electric guitars. If you have a mental snapshot of that, then you've got the general sound of this album. Yes, as traditional in all Dolls albums, there is one totally acoustic piece, but the rest has the sound of their earlier albums, albiet a more harsher sound.

I really don't know what the WB was thinking in releasing "Here is Gone" as the lead single, because truthfully, it's probably the weakest Rzeznik song on the album. "Big Machine" is kinda fun and catchy. "Think About Me" has an intro that sounds like "Name," but don't be fooled; it's loud and another decent song. "What A Scene"'s intro reminds me of "Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2 and features Rzeznik trying out the rap style for part of the verses(which he does fairly well). "It's Over" sounds like a rock version of "Iris." "Sympathy" is YOUR token acoustic song, although not quite up to caliber with "Two Days in February," "Name," or "We Are the Normal." The final two Rzeznik tracks, "What Do You Need?" and "Truth Is A Whisper" are possibly the best tracks on the album. Both of those tracks contain the painful emotion that very few writers/performers are able to inject into a song.

Oh, yeah, and there's another singer named Robby Takac, who's songs are generally fun and his voice isn't as annoying as it has been in the past.

The final verdict? It's hard, it's harsh, and it's a magnificent effort by the Goo Goo Dolls. Definitely worth a buy.

Okay, I'm started to get annoyed with all the people comparing the old Goo albums to Gutterflower. Yes, they're very different (from Jed where it was all Robby singing, to now, where everything is about John and the punk to rock to poprock change) but give them a break. They can't be expected to stay the same forever. Don't look at Gutterflower as "Oh, it's the eighth Goo Goo Dolls album", look at it as "Hey, a new album by some group." If you don't compare it to the past albums, you might enjoy it more. That said, I'll begin.

Let's start with their single, Here Is Gone. The first time I heard this song, the only reason I liked it was because it was Goo, and the only part of the song I liked was the chorus. But after hearing it several time (the radio stations seemed to love it) it grew on me. From their album, I believe it was the most radio-ready.

Of course, this isn't all of the tracks on the twelve track album, but it's a sample of some. It's a great album. The Goo Goo Dolls have a great sound, perfect for when you're hating the whole world and great when you're ready to rock on. Lyrically, it makes you think and try and decipher the imagery in the songs. All together, a tight album that leaves you wanting more.

If you liked Dizzy Up The Girl, you'll love Gutterflower. The music rocks, as always, and the lyrics are sincere. I wouldn't expect anything else from the Goos. This album sounds like they really are doing what they love to do. Their enthusiasm bleeds into their music. John wrote more songs with his altered guitar tunings, and Robby wrote his riff-driven songs with flare. The guys sound better than ever on this record. Call it power pop, alternative, or whatever you want, the fact of the matter is, it's great music everyone can relate to. I tip my hat to the GGD on their latest effort. It hasn't left my CD player for the year it's been on the shelves.