*note* I wrote this review about a month ago, but it got deleted. I'm re-posting it now, so mods, I hope the problem is fixed or whatever happened. Good thing I saved it as a Word doc, lol.
The Goo Goo Dolls started out in the late 80's as a college-based, punk rock, cover band. Their first two albums established this image and led many to compare them to the Ramones and the Replacements. However, as time went on, the comparison made less and less sense as the Goos were evolving into something more. While Superstar Carwash and its follow up, A Boy Named Goo alienated the Goo Goo Dolls' original audience, it attracted a new one many times as large and diverse. Finally, the Goos reached the pinnacle of what could be defined as "stardom" with the release of Iris for the Nicholas Cage movie City of Angels. The trend continued with the brilliant Gutterflower album in 2002, placing hits Here Is Gone, Sympathy, and Big Machine on radios everywhere.
The Goo Goo Dolls have, IMO, matured musically over their next two albums, Dizzy Up the Girl and Gutterflower. However, A Boy Named Goo has a charm of its own that echoes back the the band's earlier days while giving the listener a taste of the later Gutterflower style to come. Up to this point in their career, the Goo Goo Dolls had gone largely unnoticed aside from a small following of devoted fans. It was mostly due to the explosive success of the pre-release single "Name" that the Goos are what they are today. Name propelled the band forward into fame in a way that they had never before anticipated. While most people have heard the song playing occasionally on radios, I believe that the rest of the album has huge merit, moreso than that one song. Like Iris, the single gets the lifeblood played out of it while the rest of the album definitely outshines it.
The Goo Goo Dolls:
Johnny Rzeznik-Guitar, Vocals
Robby Takac-Bass, Vocals
George Tututska-Drums
Here we go, track-by-track
Long Way Down
This was the first song off this album I heard, and it's definitely a good one. A nice solo rests comfortably on top power chords (the trademark goo goo doll style) John's voice rises to a rasping, high pitched climax in the chorus, and the song closes with a short riff that sounds to me like it could have been done by an 80's progressive band... weird. But this is a great choice for solitary download, and a great choice for an opener. (4.0/5)
Burnin' Up
Robby Takac, is from my experience a controversial singer and writer. His voice is the definition of raspiness and his songs always come off as filler for the album (particularly in Dizzy Up the Girl, Robby's all-time low point in songwriting). One either loves him or hates him, and even if you love him, chances are he has at least one song you don't like. However, it seems to me that Takac's songs on this album are much more diversified than on later discs. Perhaps it's the presence of drummer Tututska in the composer credits. Ah, well, the point is that Burnin' Up is a very listenable song with slick guitar work by John, fun lyrics (life just seemed so easy when it's from my easy chair), and an interesting middle section in when Robby starts screaming for a spell. One of the more enjoyable Robby songs, and I never skip it. (3.5/5)
Naked
Every once in a while, John writes a song that just wows the pants off you. This is one of those songs. IMO perfect in every way, Naked is the definition of a Goo Goo Dolls song. The b-string on John's guitar is tuned up to a C, the distortion is slurred and gravelly, and John's voice belts out the chorus in a simple yet unforgettable melody that Rzeznik has such a knack for. A good song to close your eyes and nod your head to the moderately paced beat. In the middle, all the instruments stop and John sings solo for a few seconds. "Inside your head, no one's there. And I don't think I'll ever be, and I don't care." Yet again one of John's wonderful talents. One of the great classics of modern music.(5/5)
Flat Top
The music: mind numbingly pleasant, like Naked. The lyrics: every line is an unforgettable quote you'll be pasting in you personal messages for weeks. Lines like "A visionary coward says that anger can be power, as long as there's a victim on TV." and "Ah, sleepin on the white house lawn ain't never changed a thing, just look at all the washed out hippy dreams". Once again, John's wonderful lyrics written to an innovative melody. The guitars are deliberate and slurring, only stopping for the brief one-beat rests in the middle of the chorus. Another classic Goo selection. (4.5/5)
Impersonality
The first time you hear a new Goo Goo Dolls album, you always dread hearing Robby's voice because it signifies a break in the flawless Rzeznik roller-coaster ride you were caught up in. While this is one of Robby's lesser tracks on this album, it's actually not half bad. Robby seems to be remeniscing on his childhood while reiterating a few regrets of his present life. The guitars are okay, and the song is short, but overall an average song for the Goos. (3.0/5)
Name
Here it is. The acclaimed centerpiece of the album and the most well-known. I've seen this song described as "an earlier version of Iris". While such a comparison is justified, perhaps, I find this song much more enjoyable than Iris. The lyrics, once again, are ingenious (rather than a four-line chorus repeated 5 times) and the music isn't as repetetive. In some ways it sounds like a folk song with a dash of pop thrown in, as I think I hear a mandolin in the bridge. Anyways, the 2nd chorus is great, and the music is relaxing. This stands out as one of the best ballads of the 90's and I still give it a listen fairly often (4/5)
Only One
Could it be? A mediocre John Rzeznik song? Well, here's one. The guitars do a weird arpeggio in the verse, but the chorus is just two chords over and over again. This seems to be a distant echo of the band's punk roots, but I'm glad they've changed since then. The bridge is very bizarre, with a guitar riff skipping along to finger snapping in the background. One of the most forgettable songs I've heard by this band. (2.5/5)
Somethin' Bad
A mediocre Rzeznik song followed by a remarkably Robby song. Strange. Takac sings about the evils of corporate business (bleh, even the Goos are liberal) and being overworked. The guitars are pretty tight here, with a fast solo in the chorus and the bridge. This stands as one of my favorite songs by Robby Takac, and I listen to it as often as my favorite Rzeznik songs. However, by this point in the album, I'm looking forward to... (4/5)
Ain't That Unusual
There's alot of words I could use to describe Ain't That Unusual. Most of them lie along the lines of SWEET, AMAZING, or SPECTACULAR. Johnny tunes the top string to keep his favored open-tuning setup. He begins the song with a slick intro, then the bass and drums enter to the same riff. The verses (with *gasp* ingenious lyrics) build to a melodic, spectacular chorus where Johns voice echoes lingeringly on the high note. It's pure wonderfulness, and my favorite song off the album. You must download this song, especially if your full knowledge of the Goo Goo Dolls is Iris and perhaps Here Is Gone. Honestly, you owe it to yourself. (5/5 dang, cna't give it a 6)
So Long
Another Takac song. And unfortunately, this one isn't near as enjoyable. Two power chords dominate the chorus, and accompanied by forgettable lyrics, this is one of Robby's low points. There's some nice solos done by John but none of them make the song more than a typical Robby filler. (2/5)
Eyes Wide Open
*sigh of relief* back to John, thank goodness. A nice song that seems to be about an angry young man who's left home. "Too many friends and the fun never ends, drinkin' and hangin' around.... a fistful of cash somebody else earned, send me some more when it all got burned". The chorus is a nice, full, guitar arrangement with the typical gravelly distortion. Not an amazing song, but a very good one. I usually stop the album here. (4.5/5)
Disconnected
Apparently, this song is a cover, but if it is I don't know who did the original, and whoever DID do the original isn't worthy of Johnny's voice or his guitar remaking their crappy song. It starts with a weird voice recording of a phone operator saying that the dialed number has been disconnected, then the guitar starts and John sings about a lover who has become "so distant". Uncreative, uninspired, and uninteresting. (2/5)
Slave Girl
Ugh. Bleh. Ptooey. Robby sings this song, apparently another cover. Again, the composer of the original should not be allowed a guitar or a microphone for the rest of his life. This song is outright, downright, completely, undeniably horrible. Not the Goo's style, not Robby's style, not John's style on the guitar. Bad way to end an excellent album. (.5/5)
While not quite equaling the masterpieces of Dizzy Up the Girl or Gutterflower, A Boy Named Goo is an excellent addition to any Alt.-rock collection, even if you're not a fan of the Goo Goo Dolls. If you ARE a fan, this is certainly a must-have. I at least implore anyone reading to take a little time to download Naked or Ain't That Unusual and see what you think. This is an amazing band, and I'll be looking forward to their new album on its way this year.
