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Intro

Ever since I heard 'Superstar Car Wash' back in the early 90s I have been a big fan of the Goo Goo Dolls. They really came across as a very likeable offspring to The Replacements. The band has certainly changed their style since back then, from being a full blown punk outfit to having a more acoustic rock based style. As a fan I have accepted the change of styles along the way and feel there has been enough quality on each album to enjoy. 'Magnetic' again saw the band push further into a more pop oriented sound, however there was enough rock on the album (check out 'Caught In The Storm' and 'Slow It Down' for examples)to still label it a modern rock album. But with the band heading more and more into pop territory, and let's not forget this will be the first album since 'A Boy Named Goo' where the band will be without a drummer (Mike Malinin left the band in 2013) I have my fears that this album will be too far removed from the Goo Goo Dolls that I love.

Review

The albums starts off wonderfully with the really catchy 'Over and Over'. It is a classic modern day Goo Goo Dolls track which has a cool driving beat and a chorus that is anthem like - 'Turn it on. Turn it up. Turn it over and we'll start again'. This gets me excited for what might be to come. 'Souls in the Machine' starts off with an acoustic guitar in typical Goo Goo Dolls fashion. The song drifts along nicely enough without becoming a classic such as similar tracks they have produced like 'Slide' and 'Here is Gone' but it is a decent enough tune. 'Flood' is the first sign of a real pop sound. The added vocals of Sydney Sierota from Echosmith is a good choice, and the song is decent, but just sounds too similar to a One Republic song for my liking and the chorus is far too repetitive and does grate a little towards the end of the song.

'The Pin' is another One Republic pop clone which isn't surprising as Drew Pearson (songwriter who has worked with One Republic) co-wrote the song with John Rzeznik. Again, the song is ok, it just doesn't stick in your head like a lot of other Goo Goo Dolls songs that can be deemed a ballad type of track. I can see this song on pop radio stations, but I just can't see rock stations playing it on high rotation. 'Boxes' is probably my least liked song on the album. It again is far too poppy for my tastes with very little in the way of guitars and lots of sample type of sounds. It just doesn't click with me at all, which is a shame as the lyrics seem very personal for John - 'You are the memory that won't ever lapse, when 25 years have suddenly lapsed, wherever you take me it's clear I will go, your love's the one love that I need to know'. John's voice just keeps the one tone throughout and it just comes across as a dull and forgettable song for me. Finally we hear a song from Robbie in 'Free of Me', and it is a typical Robbie Takac track and it is one of the better songs on the album. The song still has a pop feel but it is one of the catchiest Robbie has done in his career. After the first chorus the song really picks up the pace and is probably the closest thing on the album to the classic Goo Goo Dolls sound, albeit with a big pop (but great) chorus. Both songs on this album by Robbie were the only tracks that didn't have input from outside writers/collaborators. Such a shame all of John's songs had an outside influence, as the songs are ok, but have had the heart and soul taken from them thanks to the pop influence IMO.

'Reverse' keeps the pop sound going with even a dance type of vibe happening in the chorus and a sound similar to The Script for the rest of the song. The bass sound in the chorus really annoys me and the effect on John's vocals at times in this song just confirms this is most disliked Goo Goo Dolls song so far in their career for me. The chorus is pure pop garbage IMO. 'Lucky One' keeps The Script vibe going with another pop inspired song. The verses really don't work for me, while the chorus is just ok, but this is yet another really forgettable track. 'So Alive' is the third track and most obvious attempt at sounding like The Script or One Republic so far. There just isn't anything on this album close to a song that resembles rock besides the opening track. Robbie tries to salvage something from this wreckage with 'Prayer in my Pocket', but even this solely penned tune really isn't anything memorable as it floats along nicely but fails to make any impact in the memory banks at the end of the album. At least it doesn't attempt to sound like The Script or One Republic! 'Long Way Home' finishes the album and goes back to the pop feel with the little piano bits and sample music again sounding like yep, you guessed it, The Script and One Republic. The song is ok, the beat gets you tapping your feet, but compared to what this band has produced in the past, it just doesn't rate anywhere near their usual high quality output. In fact, the more this album went on, the more I became frustrated with it. Half the songs are pretty decent, but have too much of a pop sound to it for me to like them. 'Over and Over' is a classic Goo Goo Dolls song, but the rest is simply forgettable I'm afraid. I can honestly say this is the first Goo Goo Dolls album I simply have not liked.

Outro

This is the album the band have been threatening to make ever since the commercial crossover of 'Dizzy Up The Girl'. This is the first Goo Goo Dolls album that as a whole, simply hasn't clicked with me. It is not only far too pop for my tastes, but considering some of the lyrics are the most personal there has been from the band, it's just dull and lifeless. Besides 'Over and Over' there really isn't a song that I could live without. The influence from outside writers was noticeable on the last album, and it is even more evident on this one, with the band sounding less like themselves and more like a One Republic or The Script clone. Don't get me wrong, I like those bands, but I want the Goo Goo Dolls to sound like the Goo Goo Dolls, and not like other bands, especially those that have a more pop based sound. To be fair to the band, there really isn't too many duds on this album, they just aren't memorable. The loss of Mike Malinin is a great one as the drums seem either sampled or non-existent which just adds to the more pop sound. I really wanted to like this album. Ultimately, the band are as far removed from their early days as ever before. I am all for bands evolving and changing, and I have embraced the modern day Goo Goo Dolls, but this album has even tested my love for the band. Fans of the more modern day Goo Goo Dolls will even be tested with this release, and fans who want the Goo Goo Dolls to rock, might want to throw on the classic 'Superstar Car Wash' and remember the good times instead of listening to 'Boxes'...