Review Summary: An underrated entry often overlooked by many, Gutterflower represents Rzeznik and co. at their most polished, refined, and most importantly, consistent.
It's been a while since it seems like the Goo Goo Dolls gave a damn about their music, hasn't it?
Granted, every single new release since their breakthrough hit Name has been very well produced and is pleasant enough to listen to. However, much of their most recent albums like Magnetic lack the heart and passion that was present in albums like A Boy Named Goo or Dizzy Up the Girl. Gutterflower has everything that made those two albums great, and yet manages to subtly improve on their flaws and make an album that is fun, depressing, and readily accessible.
Songs like Big Machine demonstrate the skills of Rzeznik as a guitarist, opening the album with a guitar riff played on a broken Stratocaster, wittingly named "the Half-Caster" by John. This song is both exciting and depressing, with John describing life "in the Big Machine" of LA, and how he tries to see natural beauty in the artificial, plastic scene that he's found himself in. Despite this optimistic opener, this is an album revolving around deception and failed relationships, namely Rzeznik's recent divorce with model Laurie Farinacci. And it's done very well, balancing moments of solid hope with darker moments of despair and frustration.
Lead single Here is Gone is an amazing breakup power ballad, opening with a laid back acoustic guitar before building up into its powerhouse chorus with the assistance of Mike Malinin’s energized drumming and an empowering bassline by bassist Robby Takac, the whole band seems to come together on this one song. There’s a lot of personality and things to catch (the scream during the bridge of Think About Me is actually John Rzeznik hitting his head) and every song seems very personal in the story they tell, even as they go for ear-worming melodies and grand production. Whether it’s the guitar solo present in Think About Me, the heavier, pounding guitars present in It’s Over and What Do You Need?, and especially the mandolins in the acoustic Sympathy, it always matches the emotions and overall tone of the album.
Perhaps what pushes this above A Boy Named Goo and Dizzy Up the Girl are the songs featuring Robby as the vocalist. While it really does take a while to get used to his vocal style, he is very enjoyable on this record. He’s fun, energetic, and actually gives some great hooks in Up Up Up and You Never Know. While his other two songs, Smash and Tucked Away, do distract a little bit from the momentum building up over the Rzeznik tracks, they do benefit greatly from the more polished production here. The guitar solo in Tucked Away shares a lot with Hate This Place off of Dizzy Up the Girl, and could very well have been the ending for this album.
But then we wouldn’t have Truth is a Whisper.
This song ties the album together perfectly. The themes of lies, confusion, anger, regret, they’re all wrapped together in this mysterious work where Rzeznik croons “Truth is a whisper, only a choice.” It’s a tender balance of emotions where Rzeznik can sound this embittered without ever seeming disingenuous. The song continues to build up with its dark, brooding guitar line until it reaches the bridge, which ultimately finishes the album off on an inverse of where it started, on a somber yet also inspiring note.
Overall, Gutterflower was the last great release by the Goo Goo Dolls, and remains their one of their most engaging and thought-provoking releases. The best description for this album resides in it meaning of its very name.
“gutterflower: a small, unexpected surprise.”
Recommended Tracks:
Big Machine
Here Is Gone
Sympathy
Truth Is A Whisper
