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Customer Reviews: Average Rating:  Rating :  - Right up there with the best of 1990s rock music
There's something about a good John Rzeznik-written Goo Goo Dolls tune that reminds me of hearty comfort food you crave during the winter. His voice is warm, the guitar hooks and obligatory solo are easy on the ears and often, the arena-ready chorus is the biggest draw of the song. And while Rzeznik's lyrics are usually far from joyous, his talent for capturing a mood and real-life emotion is impressive. The opening track on "Superstar Carwash," "Fallin' Down," captures all the great elements of this band, and what follows is equally great stuff.
Endearingly, Rzeznik and bass guitarist Robby Takac used to flawlessly and unselfishly switch back and forth from song to song on early albums, the former contributing larger-than-life riffs and an all-inclusive sentimental vibe that pulled at heartstrings, while the latter songwriter opted for a more punk-sounding and raspy approach. In either case, both Rzeznik and Takac seemed street smart and wary from the start, which came through in their songwriting; they simply expressed themselves in different -- though no less explosive -- ways. What's cool about this album is the way they share vocal duties on some songs. "Domino," for instance, is an fiery rocker with Takac's frantic vocals up front and Rzeznik's melodic voice in the background during the chorus. The same vocal dynamic between the two occurs on "Close Your Eyes" as well. On "String of Lies," the guys angrily trade vocals back-and forth as lightning-quick drums pave the way for a resentful tune about hurtful past relationships.
Taking a rightful and helpful cue from the loud guitar records by The Replacements, the Goo Goo Dolls were commercial-sounding right away without sacrificing their rock `n' roll integrity. Though the more polished, adult contemporary stuff would come in droves later, melodic and rocking gems like "Lucky Star" and "Girl Right Next to Me" gave the Goo Goo Dolls both street cred and major charting potential. Surprisingly, there are a few guitar moments on "Superstar Carwash" that take me back to the days of 1980s heavy metal music, though many may disagree with that assessment.
To me, it's a tossup between whether this CD or Hold Me Up is better, but one thing was clear about the Goo Good Dolls early on: They knew how to rock, and they knew how to do it with a melodic touch, just like The Replacements, a band that was a huge and obvious influence. + See Full Customer Review |  |
