Goo Goo Dolls
(Warner Bros.)
Punks-turned-pop darlings, Goo Goo Dolls have toned down their insurgent tendencies since finding favoritism from the masses, but that doesn't mean they've become complacent. "Sweetest Lie," the rollicking send-up that jumpstarts Something For the Rest of Us, offers evidence of that. However, where their early albums tended to spout anguish and veracity, these days, the band seems to be swept up in the anthemic pomp championed by the likes of U2, Coldplay and other like-minded stadium-savvy mega-stars.
That may be a tough proposition for the Goo Goos' early fans to abide completely, especially those who remember the nihilistic attitude the group fostered early on. But success has a way of hemming frayed edges, and indeed, with a wealth of Top ten singles and sales of over ten million albums to their credit, it would be foolish to upset the proverbial cart now. Yet, three years after their last album and nearly a decade since hitting their prime, it's also not surprising that they should jump on some current trends. As a result, songs like "As I Am," "Nothing Is Real," "Notbroken," "Soldier" and the title track churn on the anxiety of a populace caught up in today's difficult era, fraught with uncertainty and the struggle for survival. Never mind the fact that wealthy rock stars don't necessarily feel that angst the way the rest of the populace does. And yet, following the lead of other artists who claim to speak for the everyman with fury and indignation, these darker tomes seem to ring true. Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising if Something For the Rest of Us doesn't bring them a little something as well, especially in the form of another hit record.
DOWNLOAD: "Sweetest Lie," "Nothing Is Real" LEE ZIMMERMAN
