A Boy Named Goo
~read the opinions of these people, but listen to the music and decide for yourself.
Of all the current bands schooled on the Minneapolis rock `n' roll triangle - Replacements, Soul Asylum, Husker Du - the Goo Goo Dolls are arguably the ones who took the best notes. This is no more apparent than on the Buffalo, New York, band's fourth outing, A Boy Named Goo, which easily sounds as inspired as any mid-period `Mats record. The Dolls have downsized most of their previous punk leanings to the barest necessities - a furious, headlong tempo here, some offhanded apathy there - to make room for the simple ol' fashioned power-pop they do best. The tunes here alternate between those sung by guitarist Johnny ("Long Way Down," "Name," "Ain't That Unusual"), and bassist Robby ("Burnin' Up," "Somethin' Bad" and the Lime Spiders' garage nugget "Slave Girl"), Johnny representing the more melodic and crafty of the two camps, Robby a snarling, perky and dumb-fun alter-ego to the first. The Goo Goo Dolls are one band that's done all the growing up it needs to do, and A Boy Named Goo is the honor roll-worthy report card to prove it. © 1978-1999 College Media, Inc.
A word of advice to all you whining weeniebutts still wringing the tears out of your flannel shirts over the big Replacements breakup: Shut the fuck up, act like an adult, and put on the goddamned new Goo Goo Dolls disc. If you thought the 'Mats' Let It Be was as good as rock 'n' roll could get, you're in for a big surprise. A Boy Named Goo is the fourth punky power-pop-fest from this Woodstock, NY trio, and-from opening power-chord to closing guitar squeal-it cries the galloping anthemic alarm like a veritable Paul Revere. The Goo Goo Dolls make good-time, jump-around-in-the-back yard music, nothing too heady or political. And the songs are evenly divided into two camps: Raspy-throated growler Johnny (who bears an uncanny vocal similarity to Paul Westerberg) snaps `n' snarls through common-man protests like "Flat Top," "Only One" and "Long Way Down." He gets so lathered up by the end of each track you'd think he'd contracted rabies. Then there are the numbers bassist Robby sings, in his best weaselly voice - "Impersonality," "Burnin' Up" and "Something Bad" are all perky pop, done in adrenalin-rush hyperspeed, but pop just the same. The lyrics are fun but innocuous-Johnny's upset about the TV news, and Robby just wants to regress himself back to childhood. And it's fun hearing records from some goofy guys who refuse to grow up.
© 1978-1999 College Media, Inc.
Rolling Stone
For years now, the Goo Goo Dolls have been compared to the late great Replacements and for good reason. By now, though, these guys deserve to be loved in their own right, and the Lou Giordano-produced "A Boy Named Goo" might be their big breakthrough. If you love the slightly twisted power pop of Weezer and Sugar, you'll want to check out tracks like "Only One" and "Flat Top." This is definitely a "Boy" well worth getting to know.
-- DAVID WILD (RS Online, July 1995)
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