Goo Goo Dolls
New groups are regularly compared to established acts. Either the group develops its own persona or fades away. That was the Goo Goo Dolls' challenge throughout their early career.
On occasion, a group struggles to establish its sound with little success then releases a song that is atypical of what they do, only to have it become the song they are best known for. It happened to the Goo Goo Dolls, not once, but twice.
In '85, Buffalo natives guitarist/vocalist Johnny Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac and drummer George Tutuska formed the Goo Goo Dolls. The name came from an ad in True Detective magazine. Originally calling themselves the Sex Maggots, they began as a covers band but soon developed a hard-edged Alt. Rock/Punk sound as they built their reputation on intense live shows. Two years later the Goo Goo Dolls made their self-titled debut (sometimes referred to as "First Release"). Almost immediately, their music was likened to the Replacements. "Jed" came next but it was the '90 release "Hold Me Up" that earned college radio airplay.
While still viewed as Replacements clones, the Goo Goo Dolls put out "Superstar Car Wash" containing "We Are The Normal" written by the Dolls and the Replacements' frontman Paul Westerberg. But even with Westerberg's contribution the album failed to live up to commercial expectations. Things became even shakier while recording their next album. Tutuska was sacked and replaced by Mike Malinin.
Initially, the '95 release "A Boy Named Goo" didn't look like it was going to change the Goo Goo Dolls' fortunes until an L.A. radio station started playing "Name." Listener response prompted the Goo Goo Dolls' label to release the song as a single. "Name" hit the upper reaches of the pop charts and helped push album sales to the platinum level.
As usually happens with commercial success, a major financial dispute ensued. Rzeznik, not happy with Metal Blade's royalty rate, moved the group from that label to the parent company, Warner Brothers Records. Though emotionally spent from dealing with the business side of the business, Rzeznik was able to write a song for the "City Of Angels" soundtrack. Given his condition, it's not surprising the track was a ballad. But c'mon, what were the odds of a second Goo Goo Dolls ballad becoming a major hit. Actually, pretty good. "Iris" was huge and appeared on the Goo Goo's "Dizzy Up The Girl" album which also featured the title track and "Black Balloon."
Attempting to set the record "straight" as to what the Goo Goo Dolls were all about, they released the compilation "What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art and Commerce." Omitting their hit ballads, the record delved into the Rock side of the group's career. "Gutterflower," an album of new music, arrived in '02.
For '06 release "Let Love In." Dolls leader, John Rzeznik, wrote and worked on the songs in a downtown Buffalo Masonic lodge. The album was produced by Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band).
Like a lot of groups, the Goo Goo Dolls started on an upward arc with each album being better, in terms of impact, cohesiveness and feel, than its predecessor. They peaked with "A Boy Named Goo" not because it contains their biggest commercial hit "Name" but because the rest of the CD has stellar songs and spirited performances including "Flat Top," "Long Way Down" and "Something Bad." "Dizzy Up The Girl" tries hard but the edge has been smoothed considerably in favor of power pop approach. After a four year break the Goo Goo Dolls returned with "Gutterflower." The ballads "Here Is Gone" and "Sympathy" attracted initial attention (after all, this is a group that has had significant success with ballads) while "Big Machine" and "Up, Up, Up" are among the standout guitar driven Rockers.
"Gutterflower" is as good as "Dizzy Up The Girl" but falls short of being as strong as the group's third album, "Superstar Car Wash," recorded while the Goo Goo Dolls were still on the rise.
"What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art and Commerce" is a compilation of earlier material. "Name" and "Iris" are not included. Though those songs stand as the group's most popular efforts, they are hardly what the group is about. The album focuses on the Goo Goo Dolls' Alt. Rock adventures. There are some gems but the group's reach often exceeds its grasp.
The Rzeznik-Ballard combination on "Let Love In" delivers a power-pop album with just enough edge to keep it convincing. "We'll Be Here (When You're Gone)" and "Strange Love" are the most obvious examples. "Better Days" tries to be epic, with tempo and texture changes, and comes reasonably close with just enough drama to be believable without going over the top.
"Without You Here" is the set's big ballad. There is even a cover of Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit." The Goo Goo Dolls deliver a far superior version. That's not saying much since the original is practically unlistenable. Guess that's a back handed compliment. Where the Dolls guitar-Rock, and Rzeznik's angst-tinged vocals, really connect are on the set's opening song "Stay With You," "Listen" and the title track.