"There's no way we could rest on our laurels," asserts vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik on the collective mindset the band brought to the writing and recording of their fourth major label release. "No matter how successful we were going into this record, we all felt we were starting from scratch, as if we were making a record for the first time. Sure, you learn from experience, but the important thing is to keep it fresh, to stay alive to the possibilities and potential of the music. You can never take that for granted."

So much for Aspiration. And, while it's true that success too often breeds complacency, for the Goo Goo Dolls it's only served to bring them closer to the fundamentals of their fifteen-year partnership. "We never really bought in to the whole rock star myth," John continues, before adding with a laugh, "Well, we might have 'rented in' for a weekend here and there, but in the end it always comes back to the music. For us, success - real success - is one song at a time."

The assured and accessible lyrics of Gutterflower are matched, note for note, with music that both celebrates the band's stylistic diversity and conclusively consolidates their cohesive ensemble sound. From their trademark blood-and-thunder alchemy to glorious acoustic outings to a soundscape wholly their own, the Goo Goo Dolls, on Gutterflower, have expanded their expressive range in dazzling new directions.

Next up, naturally, is an extensive touring itinerary. "This is one of my favorite times of the whole process," John reveals. "The album is finished. There's nothing more you can do, even if you wanted to. It's time to start thinking about stepping from the studio onto the stage and making that the best experience it can be. We're ready."
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