Somehow Rzeznik has merged a really fast-paced verse with more of a subtle, broken-down chorus, and amazingly it works. Again, its nothing ground breaking, but its the kind of track youd drive to, perhaps after a rough break up, just to find that the road of your life has a few twists and turns to come. Upbeat and majestic, the string elements of this song bring it to life, and melt in-between a twangy lead guitar part. Anthemic simplicity defines the Goo Goo Dolls, and this track helps show why.
3. Slow It Down
Best track on the record. This is the Goo Goo Dolls through and through; a song that makes you want to stand up, take on the world and never look back if only for three minutes. The drums act as a kind of background marching tempo to which Rzeznik cheers us on. The chord sequence in the chorus is spine-tingling (I hear a diminished 9th in there somewhere), and it sonically represents the album very well. The intricate and sophisticated blend of the mandolin parts works nicely something we havent heard from the band since their success of Dizzy Up the Girl(1998) and Gutterflower (2002). I have read some bad reviews of the Goo Goo Dolls which say the band arent moving forward enough. The problem for me on the recent albums isnt the bands lack of a formal direction, but quite the opposite: they have forgotten their roots. The Goo Goo Dolls are an all-embracing, emotional, angsty, hearts on their sleeves rock band, and Slow it Down reminds us of a time in the late 1990s where alternative rock ruled the waves. This is classic post-grunge rock with an emotional core, and its all Goo Goo Dolls fans ever really want. Sometimes its alright to eat at the same Italian restaurant each month, especially if the food is as delicious as this bands music.