Rarities

Goo Goo Dolls

Reprise/Warner, 2021

http://www.googoodolls.com

REVIEW BY: Pete Crigler

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 07/15/2021

Do not buy this record! In what feels like a case of emptying the last of the vaults before the band leaves the label, the Goo Goo Dolls has milked their past once again for a collection of acoustic and remixed versions of songs we already know. Do we need an “acoustic” version of “Name?” It’s already acoustic! The tracks are supposed to be from 1995-2021, but this live stuff could have been recorded at any point. The only really good B-side is a Damned cover, “Hit Or Miss,” from 1995 that I wasn’t familiar with. It’s good, it shows the band just before they lost their edge.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

They already released a collection of covers and B-sides back in 2007 that came with a DVD of most of their music videos. There’s only so much one can say about acoustic renderings of songs that you’ve already heard. This is destined for the absolute godhead diehard Goo fans that are left and don’t already have these songs. Like other people need two different versions of “Naked” or “Black Balloon.”

“We’ll Be Here (When You’re Gone)” is passable, but it’s bad when the live songs don’t even really sound “live.” They even used a promo-only cd single recording of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” from 1996 that fades too early.

This was thrown together for a quick buck and nothing really more. There have to be songs that were never put on an album or promo disc or something like that that could’ve easily been released instead of this pitiful thing.

I used to dig the Goos back when I was younger, but I can barely tolerate them at all now. Putting out product like this only justifies my continual downgrade of their catalogue.

Rating: D-

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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