Goo Goo Dolls

Item: Gutterflower
Author: Nate Bailey

Gutterflower

(2002)

Reviewed by Nate Bailey

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify

Label Warner Bros. RecordsDecapolisApril 2002

alternative rock pop rock

The Goo Goo Dolls need no introduction.

It's been four years since "Dizzy up the Girl" and for the majority of that time the GGDs have been on the road. To follow up on such an album is a tough thing to do, but Gutterflower seeks to do just that. The first single "Here is Gone" is already on the radio along with a video on TV. With my first listen I was disappointed. My expectations were really high and I wanted something as good as "Dizzy up the Girl" or better. There's a difference though. The new album doesn't jump out and grab you as their previous one did, but given a chance the dynamics come to your ear and you realize that this is well written music. With each listen I'm coming to appreciate it more and more. There's familiar Goo Goo Dolls writing, but it's not as edgy as earlier releases. Not that this is not necessarily a bad thing, basically it shows the band going in a different direction. Some of the better songs include "Sympathy" and "Think About Me."

B-